The building of the Hungarian Parliament, the photo of which is presented below, is a symbol and one of the main attractions of not only Budapest itself, but the whole country. It is included in the list of the largest government buildings on the planet. For everyone, guided tours are held here, in connection with which hundreds of thousands of tourists come here every year. In one of the halls the main values of the country are stored: the scepter, crown and mace of St. Stephen, who is the most respected ruler, because it was he who laid the foundations of the statehood of Hungary.
Prerequisites for the construction
The state received the right to build its own parliament building in 1880. Since before that it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, there was no similar structure in Budapest. In this regard, it was decided to build "from scratch" a new building of the Hungarian parliament. The authorities announced a competition, in which 19 projects took part. Its winner was the work of the then-famous architect, a follower of the neo-Gothic style, Imre Steindl. For construction, a site was chosen on the Danube, located between Margit Bridge and the Chain Bridge. Construction work started in 1885.
Erection
The construction of the facility lasted almost twenty years. Several thousand workers from all over the country took part in its construction. The building of the Hungarian Parliament was finally completed in 1904. Nevertheless, the first meeting of the state government in it was held ten years before. Then there were celebrations on the occasion of the millennium since the conquest of Hungary by the Magyars. For the construction of the palace, 40 million bricks and 40 kilograms of gold were used. Unfortunately, the architect Imre Steindl did not see his creation in its final form, because he had not survived until that time, he died in 1902.
general description
The building of the Hungarian Parliament is made in the neo-Gothic style. As conceived by the architect, its exterior was to emphasize the greatness of the country, which at that time was in the wake of constant economic growth. In turn, the location on the banks of the Danube symbolized the people's hopes for independence from Austria, as well as for cultural and political freedom.
The palace was built in the shape of a regular rectangle. Its dimensions in length and width are respectively 268 and 123 meters. The height of the main dome is 96 meters. It is believed that a certain symbolism is laid in this figure, because in 896 the Magyars conquered the country. The facade is made of light stone. It contains 88 sculptures of individuals who played an important role in the history of the state. In addition, the facade is decorated with numerous columns, arches, cornices, towers and other architectural decorative elements.
Interior
The building of the Hungarian parliament inside looks no less impressive and magnificent than outside. Here visitors can see a large number of paintings, mosaic floors, elegant colored stained-glass windows, panels and frescoes on the ceilings, beautiful lamps and much more. The structure has 691 rooms. All rooms and halls are decorated with gold, expensive noble materials, precious woods and velvet. On the floors are expensive carpets. Directly under the central dome is the so-called Main Hall, in which meetings were held and important laws were passed. It is decorated with sculptures depicting the history of the state, starting from the moment it was conquered by the Magyars. Inside there are ten courtyards. You can get to the upper floors with 13 elevators and 29 stairs. In order to enter the building of the Hungarian Parliament, 27 gates are provided. It should be noted that the side wings are symmetrical and have a similar interior. In one of them, government meetings are still being held, and in the other, excursions for all comers.
Excursions
As noted above, the building is open to the public. Tours are paid and conducted by professional guides in eight languages. Their cost for adults is 4 thousand forints, and for children under the age of 6 years admission is free. They pass almost every day, with the exception of only a few public holidays. In this regard, it is recommended to clarify this point before going on an excursion to the building of the Hungarian Parliament.
Opening hours depend on the day of the week. For example, from Monday to Friday, admission is allowed from 8-00 to 18-00, and on Saturday and Sunday from 8-00 to 16-00. On plenary days, you can only go inside until 10 a.m. For tourists from our country, it is best to go here any day by 11-00, as this time is allotted for Russian-language excursions.
When visiting the building, you must adhere to the rules established by the security service. Each person who goes inside is carefully inspected by security officers. It is recommended that you bring as few things as possible. Entrance with any types of weapons, including gas canisters, is prohibited. For the convenience of tourists, the building provides luggage storage and a wardrobe. It should be noted that the fact that people with disabilities can also visit it. All that needs to be done in this case is just to ask for help when buying a ticket at the box office. Visually impaired visitors are even allowed to enter with a guide dog.