The building of the Hungarian Parliament. The Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest. Hungarian Parliament building on Google panorama

The Hungarian Parliament is the most visited attraction in Budapest. Not a single excursion is complete without a tour of this building, even a cursory one. Externally, it amazes not only with its scale, but also with its architectural style, somewhat reminiscent of London Palace of Westminster.

Photos of the parliament do not fully reflect the grandeur that emanates from the building. And this, by the way, is the longest building in all of Hungary! And one of the largest government residences in all of Europe!

The building looks most impressive at night, when the lights turn on. Architectural reliefs and lines acquire increased clarity with the onset of darkness, falling shadows create bizarre compositions.

Even children will enjoy the scale of the spectacle, so taking a walk to parliament in the evening will also be useful for them. And there is something to see inside! On days when there are no parliamentary sessions, organized excursions in 8 languages, including Russian.

So that you have no doubt that the inside of the Hungarian Parliament building (Orsagaz) in Budapest is no less interesting than the outside, we will give you some amazing facts.

During the construction of the building, 40 million bricks and 40 kg of gold were used, and thousands of people took part in the construction.
The architect never saw his creation completed, as he died in 1902. What is noteworthy is that he did not live only 5 weeks to grand opening parliament in 1902 (and external finishing work continued until 1904).
From the mid-twentieth century until the collapse of the USSR, there was a red star on the spire of the dome, the same as on the Kremlin towers. It was removed after Hungary turned to the West.
The domed hall stores the main State symbols Hungary - scepter, sword, orb, crown of St. Stephen (aka Stephen). This spacious hall is decorated with statues of 16 kings and rulers of Hungary.
There are a total of 250 statues inside and outside the parliament.
The first meeting of the parliament took place on the occasion of the millennium of Hungary and happened before the building was completed - in 1896.

How to get on a tour of the Hungarian Parliament

There is an official website of the Hungarian Parliament, which publishes current information about excursions. Tours in a specific language are strictly limited by time.

For example, previously Russian-language excursions were held at 15.00, then they were moved to 11.00. Tickets can be purchased online on the same website, after payment you just need to print them and scan them at the entrance to parliament. Or you can buy it at the ticket office near the building, but you will have to stand in line. Please note that purchasing tickets online will require a fee of approximately 250 HUF.

Up-to-date information can also be found at the stand located near the fence on the side of the memorial obelisk. It is dedicated to the events of 1956, when Soviet tanks crushed the uprising in Budapest. At the appointed time, a guide approaches the gathered tourists and takes the group inside.

The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and the staff accompanying the group ensures that no one deviates from the route. So you won’t be able to take a random walk around the parliament grounds. Sometimes excursions are postponed to another day. This is due to the meetings that are held here periodically. Although there are two halls in parliament. Previously, the government was bicameral, but now the second hall is simply rented out.

Hungarian Parliament from the inside

From the street the parliament looks large, but inside it can truly be compared to! Even adults will be amazed by the scope of interior finishing work, let alone children.

Consider the fact that 40 kg of gold were used during construction alone. There are gilded elements on the walls and ceiling, and paintings by famous Hungarian artists can be seen everywhere. The interior is designed in medieval style, includes mosaic panels, stained glass windows.

Walking along huge staircases covered with red carpets, it is very difficult not to be distracted and carefully look at your feet, because all the luxury around is impressive and attracts the eye.

The height of the largest dome of parliament is 27 m - just imagine, this is equivalent to a 9-story building! And the diameter reaches 20 m.

In the central domed hall, children will be interested in looking at the main symbols of Hungary, solemnly guarded by a real guard of honor. The main attraction is Stephen's crown, placed on a velvet pillow. And next to it you can see a scepter, an orb and a sword. There are several theories about the origin of this crown, which you will learn about from the guide.

For example, why is there a crooked cross on both the crown and the Hungarian coat of arms, which rulers were not crowned with its help, why did it visit the US gold depository and how did it return to its homeland.

It is believed that once they tried to smuggle the crown out of the palace, so they hid it in a casket and covered it with a lid. In a hurry and carelessly, they broke the cross, which is why it remains in this condition to this day. They decided not to level it in memory of the events that took place.

Even children will listen to all these stories with enthusiasm, after which tourists will proceed to the meeting rooms of parliamentarians. As mentioned above, there are two of them. Completely identical.

The interiors are designed in the same medieval style, but each workplace equipped with modern gadgets. And on the window sills there are numbered compartments for cigars. And they also have their own history of origin.

To sum up, it can be noted that a visit to the Hungarian Parliament will be interesting for the whole family. Both children and adults will appreciate the scale of the building, the beauty of the finishing work, listen to fascinating stories and wonder which of the legends about the crown is more like the truth.

Tourists who visited here noted that the total excursion time is not always enough. The beauty of the parliament's interiors is impressive, but some would have liked the tour to last longer. Although, on the other hand, 45 minutes is quite enough for a visit with a child.

What do you associate with the city of Budapest? With the most luxurious bridges, cars, big houses? With statues and castles? With friendly people and wide streets? Of course, all this is here too, but the real symbol of Budapest is the building of the Hungarian Parliament!

How the Hungarian Parliament building was built in Budapest

It was decided to build the building after the cities of Buda and Pest united in 1873. A competition was announced among architects, in which Imre Steindl, a Hungarian architect, won. And in 1885, construction began in Budapest on the eastern bank of the Danube. And as usually happens, construction was delayed. After all, large financial investments were needed, and the Hungarian government was not always able to allocate money.

9 years passed and between the two chain bridges Széchenyi and Margit a huge building in the neo-Gothic style grew up and looked like medieval castle. Unfortunately, by the end of construction, Imre Steindl went blind, never seeing his creation in its finished form.

The Hungarian Parliament building is the largest building not only in Budapest, but throughout Hungary. The appearance of the Parliament is so unusual, dynamic and original that when you find yourself near it, you don’t understand: you are in the present or in the medieval past.

The spiers of neo-Gothic towers and powerful domes add even more royal luxury, thanks to which you involuntarily recall the legends of King Arthur and the majestic Camelot. You imagine yourself as Queen Guinevere, the owner of the lands.

The stunning halls of the Hungarian Parliament

Inside the Hungarian Parliament, under a powerful dome, there is a spacious 16-corner main hall, which is decorated with all kinds of sculptures and portraits of prominent people of Hungary, paintings and frescoes that are priceless.

On both sides of it are two meeting rooms for the Upper and Lower Houses of Hungary.

In the domed hall the most main symbol Hungary, as a state, has the sacred crown of St. Stephen along with the scepter and sword.

And 16 statues of kings and rulers of Hungary “guard” the relic.

There are only about 700 rooms inside the Hungarian Parliament. Basically, all the halls are “assembled” on the first and second floors.

Interior of the Hungarian Parliament

The construction of this grandiose structure required 40 million bricks. And in the finishing work they used 40 kilograms of gold!

The building contains:

691 rooms
13 elevators
27 gates
29 stairs
The area is 18,000 square meters

The Lion Gate is the main entrance to the building. On the facade there are 88 figures of leaders and kings of Hungary.

From the door itself the interior is simply amazing! The ideological spirit of the Hungarian architects, the capabilities of the builders and the combination of “plus” and “minus” are amazing.

High staircases covered with carpets, “candle lanterns” and crystal chandeliers, arches framed in gold, statues at every step and much more that will remind you of a fairy-tale castle.

One can assume that if the place where state problems are solved is so beautiful and majestic, then the state will prosper from year to year!

Where is the Hungarian Parliament building located on the map?

Take a look at the Hungarian Parliament building in this video:

The Parliament building in Budapest is the largest building in Hungary - it has almost 700 rooms, 29 staircases and 10 courtyards. This residence, built in 1896, is one of the country's main attractions. Over half a million tourists visit parliament every year.

History of creation

The decision to construct the building was made back in 1843. However, these plans were interrupted by the soon-to-begin Hungarian Revolution. After the unification of Buda and Pest in 1873, the government returned to this idea. A site was chosen for the construction on the eastern bank of the Danube, between the Széchenyi and Margaret bridges.

Based on the results of a qualifying competition, Imre Steindl, a big fan of the neo-Gothic style, was chosen for the position of architect. According to the master's idea, the structure is located in such a way that it can be viewed from all four sides. Other architects participating in the competition also contributed. Based on their designs, the Ethnographic Museum and the Ministry were built next to the parliament. Agriculture.

The construction of the Hungarian parliament lasted almost twenty years, from 1885 to 1904.

The result was a majestic building, 268 meters long and 123 meters wide.

Architecture buffs often compare this residence to the Palace of Westminster in London.

Architecture Features

The Parliament building covers an area of about 18,000 square meters. meters: almost 40 million bricks were used for its construction. The goal of the project was to showcase the talents of local craftsmen, so the residence was built entirely from Hungarian materials.

No expense was spared for the construction; only about 23 kilograms of gold and 30,000 cubic meters were used to decorate the interior. meters of carved decorations.

The facade of the parliament is decorated with 90 sculptures depicting great historical figures of Hungary, and the length of the red carpet inside the premises is almost 3 kilometers.

Dome Hall of Parliament

According to the project, the work was supposed to be completed back in 1896, but by this time only the central domed hall, which is the basis of the entire building, had been built. In the same year, it celebrated the next anniversary of the conquest of Hungary by the Magyar tribes.

The hall is striking in its size: the diameter of its dome is 20 meters, and the height reaches 27 meters. On both sides of the dome are the parliament meeting rooms. Since the Hungarian Parliament is no longer bicameral, the second meeting room has been converted into a conference room. The room is decorated with 162 sculptures depicting the rulers of Hungary and Transylvania.

Since 2000, the small Parliament Museum, inside the residence, has kept royal symbols of power - the scepter, the orb, the sword and, of course, the crown of St. Stephen. Every hour for 20 minutes there is a guard of honor dressed in historical uniform. The mantle, as well as the chests in which the coronation regalia were kept, are kept in the Hungarian national museum. The interiors of the domed hall are richly decorated with mosaics, stained glass and gilding in the medieval style.

Virtual tour of the Houses of Parliament

Excursions

The Hungarian Parliament building is a symbol of Budapest; its image can be found everywhere on souvenirs and postcards. All sightseeing tours of the city include a visit to the residence. There are also attractions nearby worthy of attention: Kossuth memorial, monuments to Ferenc Rakoczi II, Imre Nagy, Attila Jozsef and participants in the 1956 uprising in Hungary.

If you come to the parliament building after dark, you will see a fascinating picture. Evening illumination residences and the reflection in the waters of the Danube make it look like a magical castle.

Tours of the Hungarian Parliament building are offered daily. For guests from Russia, Russian-speaking guides are available at 12.30 and 15.30.

During the week of plenary sessions, visits to the residence may be limited. You can find out about all changes in the work of parliament by phone or on the official website.

Judging by the reviews, tourists are advised to buy tickets for excursions in advance via the Internet or the Parliament mobile application. This is more convenient, since there may be long queues at the box office and not everyone may get tickets. In the mobile application you can also get acquainted with information about tickets, history, architectural features and make virtual tour around the building.

Ticket prices for the Hungarian Parliament building in 2019

for adults (non-EU citizens) - 6,700 forints;
for students (non-EU citizens, from 6 to 24 years old) - 3,500 forints;
for children under 6 years old - free;
for citizens of Hungary and the EU - 3,500 forints;
for Hungarian and EU students - 1900 forints.

For getting discount ticket, you must present the appropriate document. Groups can visit the building by pre-registration.

Hungarian Parliament building Google Panorama

Visiting rules and dress code

The following is prohibited in the Parliament building:

bring flags, badges and symbols of other states;
make noise, listen to music loudly, sing and demonstrate;
eat, drink and smoke;
sit on stairs, on furniture, kneel or lie on the floor;
touch coronation regalia;
bring firearms and bladed weapons, ammunition, explosive substances, as well as substances that may stain the property of parliament and other visitors.

When visiting, you should dress in classic clothing. You cannot come in swimsuits, short shorts, skirts, etc.

You must go through a security check upon entering the building. All large bags and suitcases are subject to inspection.

Photo and video recording can be carried out throughout the building, except for the domed hall and the security control point area. If the rules are violated, visitors may be denied entry and the tour.

Barrier-free access is provided for people with disabilities. Pets are not allowed, but blind visitors are welcome to bring a guide dog.

How to get there

The Hungarian Parliament building is located at Kossuth Square 1-3.

It is easily accessible by public transport. You can get to the Kossuth Lajos tér stop:

by tram number 2;
on trolleybuses - No. 70, 78;
by bus number 15;
by metro - line M2.

You can order a taxi in Budapest through mobile applications Uber and Taxify.

You can also rent a car, travel time from the airport. Franz Liszt is about 40 minutes.

Route from the airport to parliament - Google Maps

Hungarian Parliament building: video

Updated 03/07/2019

The building of the Hungarian Parliament is depicted on almost every second souvenir brought from Budapest. It is one of the most visited attractions in the capital, which you can admire endlessly both from the outside and from the inside. By the way, not a single one passes without at least a cursory inspection of the Hungarian Parliament. sightseeing tour around town.

History of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest

The building of the Hungarian Parliament was built over 19 years according to the drawings of Imre Steindl, its construction was completed in 1904. It is the longest building in Hungary and one of the largest government residences in all of Europe. The length of the Parliament building is 268 meters, width - 123 meters, A highest point is on the level 96 meters. The Hungarian Parliament looks truly majestic. Many architectural experts believe that hungarian parliament in appearance it is very similar to the Palace of Westminster in London. Whether this is true or not, judge for yourself. I haven’t gotten to London yet, so I haven’t seen the famous Westminster with my own eyes.

On the territory of the Hungarian Parliament there is:

10 yards;
13 entrances;
29 stairs;
almost 700 halls and offices.

Photo of Parliament - the perfect place for a photo

The main entrance to the Hungarian Parliament building is located on Lajos Kossuth Square (Kossuth Lajos tér), and the most photographed part of it is from the Danube side. Although it is better to examine the parliament in detail and walk around it from all sides. But to see the majestic building in its entirety, and even to fit it into one photo, you will have to cross one of the bridges over the Danube.

The evening illumination and illumination of the building are so professionally designed that many tourists specially come for observation decks with the onset of darkness. The brightly illuminated parliament reflected in the waters of the Danube is a truly mesmerizing sight. You will find an equally beautiful picture if you come to dark time 24 hours in Városliget park.

Thousands of people took part in the construction of the building; 40 million bricks and 40 kilograms of gold were used in its construction.
The architect of the Hungarian parliament was unable to see his creation in person, as he became blind before the construction was completed.
From the mid-20th century until the collapse of the USSR, the spire of the Hungarian Parliament building was decorated with a red star, following the example of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. After Hungary turned to the West, it was removed.
The main state symbols of Hungary are kept in the domed hall of the parliament. This is the crown of St. Stephen, the scepter, the orb and the sword. The hall itself is decorated with statues of 16 Hungarian kings and rulers.

Tours of the Hungarian Parliament

Tours of the interior of parliament are held every day from 9:45 to 16:00. Two excursions are offered for Russian-speaking tourists: at 12:30 and also at 15:15. Tickets can be purchased in advance online to avoid wasting time in line at the box office and avoiding lack of seats. Here you can find out how many tickets and for which excursion are available on a particular day. After paying the cost of the ticket, you need to print it immediately. With this e-voucher you can go straight to the entrance and wait for the tour of the Hungarian Parliament to begin.

This is interesting! Two flags hang above the entrance to the Hungarian Parliament building. One - red, white and green - is the flag of Hungary. The second is blue - the flag of the Székely region. This is an unrecognized national-territorial autonomy on the territory of Romania. The Székelys lived and still live in Transylvania, which until 1920 was part of Hungary.

Entrance fee

For adults (non-EU citizens) – 5,200 forints;
for students (from 6 to 24 years old) – 2,600 forints;
for children under 6 years old – free;
for EU citizens - 2,000 forints;
for students from EU countries - 1,000 forints.

You will also be charged an electronic fee of 220 forints per ticket.

Useful information about the Hungarian Parliament

Official site: parliament.hu(there is a version in English).

Opening hours for visitors

Monday - Friday - from 08:00 to 18:00

Saturday-Sunday – from 08:00 to 16:00

Monday - Sunday - from 08:00 to 16:00

How to get there

You can get to the Hungarian Parliament building by almost all types public transport Budapest:

Metro - M2 (station Kossuth Lajos tér).

Bus - No. 15, No. 115 (Kossuth Lajos tér stop here and below).

Tram - No. 2.

Trolleybus - No. 70, No. 78.

There is a wonderful place near the parliament where they cook very tasty food. Read where to eat in Budapest.

Hungarian Parliament on the map

Do you want to take a walk around Budapest in the evening and learn a lot interesting facts about him? Sign up for a tour.

Always yours, Daniil Privonov.

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Looking for a hotel or apartment? Thousands of options at RoomGuru. Many hotels are cheaper than on Booking Its central dome is 27 meters high and 20 meters in diameter. Inside there are luxurious interiors in the style of the Middle Ages, mosaics, frescoes and stained glass windows. In 2011, the building and the surrounding panorama of the Danube were added to the list of objects World Heritage

UNESCO.

History of the building

The building of the Hungarian government is often called a symbol of people's independence. Large-scale construction was first discussed back in 1844. They wanted to locate it on modern Elizabeth Square, but the revolution of 1848 froze plans for several years. As a result, they decided to build a parliament after the unification of Buda and Pest - two cities that were located on opposite banks of the Danube.

In 1873, the authorities announced a competition to create a design for the future government house. In total, about 20 works were sent, of which the idea of the architect Imre Steindl was recognized as the best. The competition committee was captivated by the eclecticism: the facade in the neo-Gothic style, the dome of the Renaissance era and the baroque spirit in the interior. Before this, Steindl had already managed to design the new town hall of the united city, but his best work was the capital's parliament. The architect did not live a little more than a month before the opening ceremony of his own masterpiece. The building itself was built on the site for almost two decades Danube. Imre Steindl's memoirs have been preserved, where he described the sources of inspiration when working on a grandiose project. He was greatly impressed, especially by the Palace of Westminster. Therefore, experts often compare the Hungarian parliament with one of the most famous buildings in Great Britain.

How to get there

The government building is located on Lajos Kossuth Square.

The exact address: Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3.

Option 1

Metro: Take the M2 line to Kossuth Lajos Tér station.

Option 2

Tram: Route No. 2 to the stop Kossuth Lajos tér M.

Option 3

Bus: routes No. 15 and 115 to the Kossuth Lajos tér M stop.

Option 4

Trolleybus: routes No. 70 and 78 to the Kossuth Lajos tér M stop.

Hungarian Parliament building on the map

Opening hours and entrance fees

The place is open from April 1 to October 31, daily from 8:00 to 18:00. From November 1 to March 31 - every day from 8:00 to 16:00. About the operating mode holidays need to find out in advance. Price entrance ticket for citizens of countries outside the European Union - 6,000 Hungarian forints ( ~1,380 rub. ). Children under six years old can enter for free. Actual information on the official one.

There is a special center for tourists to purchase tickets for excursions and souvenirs. It is located on the opposite side of the building from the metro exit. In the Hungarian Parliament, you can take photos and shoot videos almost everywhere, except for the hall under the central dome. There is the crown of St. Stephen, which the Hungarians honor as one of the main relics of their people.

What you should pay attention to

There are several towers on either side of the parliament dome, and above the windows are statues of famous rulers and warriors. Nearby, literally a few steps away, you can see a memorial in honor of the fallen heroes of the 1956 revolution.

It is better to explore the Hungarian Parliament building up close. From a distance it is usually not noticeable that each side has its own decor. There are no identical parts on the facade walls. And although the structure is perceived as very organic, in fact it consists of many carefully thought out architectural elements. Therefore, tourists love to walk around the building for a long time, looking at each unique little thing in its own way.

Inside the parliament there are 10 courtyards, 29 staircases and almost 700 halls. It is unlikely that you will be able to see them in one excursion. It is definitely worth visiting the Hunting Hall and the Hall of Deputies - beautiful paintings and frescoes are kept there. In general, the building may seem very pompous due to the abundance of gilding and the combination of different styles. The mixture of Baroque, neo-Gothic and Renaissance in the interiors looks impressive; a lot of expensive fabrics and valuable wood species were used in the decoration of the halls.

Some tourists like to come here after dark when the lights turn on. The sight of the majestic parliament, which is brightly reflected in the Danube waters, is truly mesmerizing. During the day, looking at the façade is no less interesting: it is decorated with many exquisite sculptures and ornaments. But the building makes a special impression during river excursions in the evening. Tourists often say that this feeling cannot be expressed in words: many lights illuminate the majestic masterpiece of architecture, and it looks like a fairy-tale palace.

To decorate the interior of the parliament, 40 kilograms of real gold were used.
The building is so large that it could fit 50 five-story buildings.
Twice a year, on March 15 and October 23, you can enter parliament completely free of charge in honor of national holidays.
The largest carpet is spread on the floor in the Hall of the Upper Chamber self made throughout Europe.
The building is decorated inside and outside with about 250 statues.
The famous crown of St. Stephen, which is kept here, has a crooked cross on the top of its head. This is due to the fact that during turbulent times for the country, the relic was taken out, but it was done carelessly. Since then, no technician has been able to correct the defect.
During Soviet times, there was a red star on the tower of the Hungarian Parliament, just like on the Moscow Kremlin.

Description of excursions

Separate excursions are provided for Russian-speaking tourists. The time for gathering groups can be clarified on the official website. You can also buy tickets in advance so as not to waste time waiting in line at the ticket office. At the entrance, visitors are thoroughly searched, so you should not take suspicious items with you, such as gas cans, large packages and bags.

Inspection of the interior of the building begins with climbing stairs No. 17, which is richly decorated with gold and statues. Along the grand staircase in different time key figures of modern world politics rose up: Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande, Vladimir Putin. Next, tourists are shown the hall of the Upper Chamber, where various meetings are currently being held. The walls there are decorated with oak panels and partially covered with gilding. In the hall you can see the coats of arms of the royal families of Hungary, frescoes with scenes from noble history.

The lobby in front of the entrance to the hall, where 88 granite sculptures, each dedicated to traditional Hungarian crafts. There is also an unusual stand for cigars, which are smoked by local aristocrats. Each has its own numbered compartment - this is done so that noble persons do not accidentally confuse them. There is a funny story associated with these cells. They say that during the meeting, one of its participants went out for a smoke break, but was quickly called back - the speech of one of the parliamentarians began. The politician did not put out his cigar, hoping that he would return in a couple of minutes. As a result, he was gone so long that the cigar had time to rot. And then he said: “This speech was worth Havana alone.”

Another important part is the hall under the main dome, where unique exhibits are located: the crown of St. Stephen, the scepter, the orb and the sword. They are protected by a guard of honor. The walls are decorated with statues honoring royalty and princes.

At the end of the tour, you can spend another half hour walking around the historical exhibition on the construction of the building to see an amazingly accurate example of the building itself on a scale of 1:100 from polystyrene cardboard, which took six months to create.

It’s worth visiting the Hungarian Parliament building because it looks even better in person than in the pictures. On average, it takes about two hours to inspect the main part of the building. After the excursion, tourists often visit nearby Ethnographical museum and the Ministry of Agriculture, which were built according to the designs of those architects, at one time competed with Steindl for the right to become the author of the main attraction of Budapest. There are also beautiful monuments in the area, among which the Holocaust Memorial stands out. Within walking distance from the Hungarian Parliament is one of the largest European churches - St. Stephen's Basilica - you can walk there in 15 minutes.

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