bill barber
Budapest: Along the Danube: The Parliament
Until the 19th century the Hungarian diet held its sessions in different parts of the country. In the Reform Era the idea of a "House of a Motherland" became more and more popular.
Construction began in 1884 and lasted for two decades. The building opened in 1902, although it should have been finished by 1896 for the Milennium of Hungary's foundation. The site is located on the Pest bank of the Danube to act as a visual counterweight to the Royal Palace rising high on the other side of the river. The architect, Imre Steindl, got his inspiration for the design from London's Houses of Parliament.
After World War II the diet became single-chambered, and the government now uses only a small portion of the building. During the communist regime a red star perched on the top of the dome. It was removed in 1990. Mátyás Szűrös declared the Hungarian Republic from the balcony facing Kossuth Lajos tér on 23rd of October, 1989. The Hungarian parliament has 386 members that are elected every 4 years.
The Budapest Parliament stretches between the Chain Bridge and the Margaret Bridge on the Pest bank of the Danube.
It is visible from almost every riverside point. The Gellért Hill and the Castle Hill on the opposite bank offer the best view of this huge edifice.
Budapest Parliament is the third largest parliament in the world. Today it seems too big for such a small country, but at the time of its construction Hungary formed part of the Habsburg Empire, that stretched from the Tatra Mountains to the Adriatic.
The Parliament has 691 rooms. The length of all the stairs together measures about 20 kilometres. The most impressive is the grand staircase. The building contains spacious halls. The central dome's height reaches 96 m.
The building has 27 entrance gates. 90 statues and the coats-of-arms of various cities adorn the exterior. There are 152 statues and pictures of national fauna. The decorations required about 40 kg 22-23 karat gold.
www.budapest-tourist-guide.com/budapest-parliament.html#hist
Budapest: Along the Danube: The Parliament
Until the 19th century the Hungarian diet held its sessions in different parts of the country. In the Reform Era the idea of a "House of a Motherland" became more and more popular.
Construction began in 1884 and lasted for two decades. The building opened in 1902, although it should have been finished by 1896 for the Milennium of Hungary's foundation. The site is located on the Pest bank of the Danube to act as a visual counterweight to the Royal Palace rising high on the other side of the river. The architect, Imre Steindl, got his inspiration for the design from London's Houses of Parliament.
After World War II the diet became single-chambered, and the government now uses only a small portion of the building. During the communist regime a red star perched on the top of the dome. It was removed in 1990. Mátyás Szűrös declared the Hungarian Republic from the balcony facing Kossuth Lajos tér on 23rd of October, 1989. The Hungarian parliament has 386 members that are elected every 4 years.
The Budapest Parliament stretches between the Chain Bridge and the Margaret Bridge on the Pest bank of the Danube.
It is visible from almost every riverside point. The Gellért Hill and the Castle Hill on the opposite bank offer the best view of this huge edifice.
Budapest Parliament is the third largest parliament in the world. Today it seems too big for such a small country, but at the time of its construction Hungary formed part of the Habsburg Empire, that stretched from the Tatra Mountains to the Adriatic.
The Parliament has 691 rooms. The length of all the stairs together measures about 20 kilometres. The most impressive is the grand staircase. The building contains spacious halls. The central dome's height reaches 96 m.
The building has 27 entrance gates. 90 statues and the coats-of-arms of various cities adorn the exterior. There are 152 statues and pictures of national fauna. The decorations required about 40 kg 22-23 karat gold.
www.budapest-tourist-guide.com/budapest-parliament.html#hist