The building of the Hungarian Parliament, the photo of which is presented below, is a symbol and one of the main attractions not only of Budapest itself, but of the whole country. It is one of the largest government buildings in the world. Excursions are organized here for everyone, in connection with which hundreds of thousands of tourists come here every year. One of the halls contains the main values of the country: 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.
Construction preconditions
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 building in Budapest. In this regard, it was decided to build a new building of the Hungarian Parliament from scratch. The authorities announced a competition in which 19 projects took part. Its winner was the work of a well-known architect at that time, an adherent of the neo-Gothicstyle, Imre Steindl. For the construction, a site was chosen on the banks of the Danube, located between the Margaret Bridge and the Chain Bridge. Construction work started in 1885.
Establishment
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 earlier. Then there were celebrations on the occasion of the celebration of the millennium from the day of the conquest of Hungary by the Magyars. 40 million bricks and 40 kilograms of gold were used to build the palace. Unfortunately, the architect Imre Steindl never saw his creation in its finished form, because he did not live to that time, he died in 1902.
General Description
The building of the Hungarian Parliament is made in neo-Gothic style. As conceived by the architect, its exterior was supposed to emphasize the greatness of the country, which at that time was on the wave of constant economic growth. In turn, the location on the banks of the Danube symbolized the hopes of the people 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 this figure contains some symbolism, because in 896 the country was conquered by the Magyars. The facade is made of lightstone. It has 88 sculptures of personalities 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 majestic than outside. Here, visitors can see a large number of paintings, mosaic floors, elegant stained-glass windows, panels and frescoes on the ceilings, beautiful lamps and much more. There are 691 rooms in the building. All rooms and halls are decorated with gold, expensive noble materials, precious woods and velvet. The floors are covered with expensive carpets. Directly under the central dome is the so-called Main Hall, where 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. There are ten courtyards inside. You can get to the upper floors with the help of 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 held, and in the other - excursions for everyone.
Tours
As noted above, the building is open to the public. Excursions are paid and are conducted by professional guides in eight languages. Themthe cost for adults is 4 thousand forints, and for children under the age of 6 years, admission is free. They take place almost every day, except for some public holidays. In this regard, it is recommended to clarify this point before going on a tour of the Hungarian Parliament building.
Opening hours depend on the day of the week. For example, from Monday to Friday, entry is allowed from 8-00 to 18-00, and on Saturday and Sunday - from 8-00 to 16-00. On the days of plenary sessions, you can only go inside until 10 am. For tourists from our country, it is best to go here any day by 11-00, since this time is allocated for Russian-speaking excursions.
When visiting the building, you must follow the rules established by the security service. Every person who comes inside is carefully inspected by security personnel. It is recommended to take as few things as possible with you. Entrance with any kind of weapons, including gas cartridges, is prohibited. For the convenience of tourists, the building provides storage rooms and a wardrobe. It should also be noted that people with disabilities can also visit it. All that needs to be done in this case is simply to ask for help in buying a ticket at the box office. Visually impaired visitors are even allowed to enter with a guide dog.
