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Hungarian Parliament Building

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The Hungarian Parliament Building is a famous landmark in Budapest. It sits on the Pest side of the city. It stands on Kossuth Square along the Danube River.

Budapest Parliament Building
Budapest Parliament Building

This huge building is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary. It has been the largest building in the country since it was finished. Many people visit it as a popular tourist destination. It is a very important symbol for the nation.

Building such a large place took many steps. First, leaders decided they needed a new building to show their power. They held a contest to find a good design. An architect named Imre Steindl won that contest. His plan used a style called neo-Gothic.

Divald országház 1905-27
Divald országház 1905-27

This style was inspired by the Vienna City Hall. The central dome used a Renaissance style instead. Construction started in 1885 and continued for many years. The building was officially opened in 1902.

History shows how much work went into the structure. It was not fully finished until 1904. Workers used 40 million bricks to build it. They also used half a million precious stones and gold.

Budapest Parliament Building
Budapest Parliament Building

The architect, Imre Steindl, faced hard times. He went blind and died before the work was done. Long ago, a red star sat on top of the dome. That star was removed in 1990 after communism ended. In 1989, Mátyás Szűrös declared the Hungarian Republic from the balcony.

The inside of the building is just as grand as the outside. It is very symmetrical, which means both sides match. There are 691 rooms and 29 staircases inside.

Divald országház 1905-27
Divald országház 1905-27

You can find 242 sculptures on the walls. These statues show kings, leaders, and military figures. There are also beautiful stained glass pieces by Miksa Róth. One of the most famous spots is the sixteen-sided central hall. Since the year 2000, the Holy Crown of Hungary has been on display there.

Today, the building connects the past to the present. The government uses only a small part of the halls now. The other parts are used for meetings and guided tours.

Budapest Parliament Building
Budapest Parliament Building

You can reach the site easily using the Budapest Metro or tram. Nearby, you can see memorials for the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The building is so big that it is almost always being fixed. It remains one of the most important sights in all of Hungary.

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File:Divald országház 1905-27.jpg
Divald országház 1905-27.jpg
File:Budapest Parliament Building .jpg
Budapest Parliament Building .jpg
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