Budapest has a gorgeous Parliament building on the Pest shore of the Danube. We have booked a tour at 1:30 on Wednesday. I am happy that I booked online, as only a very small number of tickets are available each day for walk-ups.
The Gothic Revival building was completed in 1904 and is reported to include half a million precious stones and 88 lbs of gold leaf.
The Gothic Revival building was completed in 1904 and is reported to include half a million precious stones and 88 lbs of gold leaf.
Our tour guide explains that both the Parliament building and St. Stephan's Cathedral are 96 meters tall - the tallest allowed in Budapest. The number 96 refers to the nation's millennium, 1896, and the conquest of the later Kingdom of Hungary in 896. Both buildings of equal height is to represent the equal importance of church and state. As we walk through the building the gold leaf is readily visible in the ceilings and along some of the walls. Under the central dome we see the royal crown and sword handed down since St. Stephen, but are not allowed to take photos. One of the great halls has interesting statues representing the workers of Hungary.
There are two nearly identical Parliament halls, but only one is now used by the legislature since the upper house of government was dissolved. Lucky for us that makes a hall fully available for viewing. Outside the hall we see the brass cigar holders - used in the days when smoking was allowed in the building but not in the Parliament halls.
The tour is informative and entertaining, and certainly worth the entry fee.
The tour is informative and entertaining, and certainly worth the entry fee.
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