Hungarian Parliament Building

Entrance to the visitor centre and the Tisza Istvan Memorial.

A Brief History of the Hungarian Parliament

The Parliament building, a magnificent example of Neo-Gothic architecture (although displaying Renaissance and Baroque characters too), is just over 100 years old. In the 1880's an open tender was held for the design of the Parliament building. Construction based on the winning plan began in 1885 and the building was inaugurated on the 1000th anniversary of Hungary in 1896, and fully completed in 1902. Both runner-up designs were also built facing the Parliament building. One is the Museum of Ethnography and the other is the Ministry of Agriculture. The Budapest Parliament building is the third largest Parliament building in the world. It has 691 rooms, 20 kilometers (12,5 miles) of stairs and at 96 meters (315 feet) it is the same height as the St. Stephen's Basilica. During the Communist era a large red star was added to the central tower above the dome of the building, but after its downfall, the star was removed. Unfortunately, modern air pollution constantly attacks the porous limestone walls, requiring frequent restoration. This also means that there is a good chance that you will see some scaffolding around the building.

One of the main halls 

The square where the Hungarian Parliament stands was named after Lajos Kossuth, a Hungarian lawyer, journalist, politician and Governor-President of Hungary in 1849. He was widely honored during his lifetime, including in the United States, as a freedom fighter and a bellwether of democracy in Europe. His memorial, as well as a memorial for the 1956 Hungarian Revolution can be seen in front of the Parliament building.

During World War II all of Budapest's bridges were destroyed and as a temporary solution a bridge was built between Kossuth Square and Batthyány Square. The bridge, named after Lajos Kossuth, was in use until 1960. A memorial next to the Parliament building marks the site on the Pest side.

One of the main halls in the Parliament Building.

Chamber of the Lower House of the National Assembly of Hungary.

The interior is very lavish and houses the jewelled crown and sceptre of King Steven. One of the oldest royal crowns in history.  Most impressive building for sure.

Another side of the PM Building.

Looking across the Danube River from the Pest side to Castle Hill.

Changing of the guards at the Parliament Building.

Statue of Count Gyula Andrassy, former PM of Hungary.

Bullet holes in the wall.

The bullet holes in the wall opposite the House of Parliament are there as reminders of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising by the people of Hungary against their Soviet backed government. At first the Soviets were tempted to acquiesce to a change in government. Then they changed their minds and invaded Budapest. Several thousand were killed, Hungarian citizens and Soviet soldiers.