Almost every voyage along the Danube passes by one of the river’s most recognisable sights, the stunning Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest. It’s a certainly a breath-taking sight and the perfect introduction to a city which is rich in architectural attractions. The building, known in the country’s language as the Orszaghaz, is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary and is the largest building in the Hungary, Budapest’s tallest structure and the third-largest parliament building in the world.
In 1873, three cities united to form Budapest, and it was decided seven years later to build a new parliament building to celebrate Hungary’s sovereignty. A competition was a held and the winner, Imre Steindl, initiated construction of the building in 1885. It was completed in 1904 and 40 million bricks and 88lbs of gold were used during its construction. The finished result is a splendid piece of Gothic Revival architecture very much inspired by our own Houses of Parliament. The building’s impressive façade faces the Danube River on the Pest bank, not the square where the official entrance can be found, which makes it all the more an impressive site for visitors arriving by river.
What’s to see?
As your river ship docks in Budapest, you’ll be able to get a good look at the building’s vast façade, which at 879 feet long, is the single-most dominating sight along the banks of the Danube. Depending on how close you sail to the building, or if you have access to a pair of binoculars, you’ll be able to see a host of statues of Hungarian rulers, military figures and Transylvanian military figures which can be seen adorning the façade, along with the coats of arms of past dukes and kings.
Once docked, you’ll be able to head for the square in front of the building, enter past the two stone lions which stand guard and explore some of its magnificent interior. You’ll first ascend the truly beautiful Grand Staircase in an ornate main entrance area where the ceilings are decorated with stunning frescos and fittingly, a bust of the building’s aforementioned creator. Not all of the building’s interior is open to the public or indeed used by today’s parliamentary officials, though on a guided tour you’ll certainly visit the spectacular Dome Hall, which houses the statues of 16 Hungarian leaders and Hunter’s Hall which boasts walls lined with a large number of eye-catching frescos. The Hungarian Coronation Regalia is the most valuable treasure you’ll find within and comprises the Holy Crown, Orb, Sceptre and a Renaissance sword. Another interesting sight is a series of individually-numbered cigar holders outside the Debate Chambers, where politicians would leave their cigars when they went into the chamber to vote, without fear of getting them mixed up.
As you would imagine, the Hungarian Parliament Building gets busy, so be sure to book an excursion in advance.
By Simon Brotherton
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