The
huge and impressive Parliament Building
was completed in 1904. It is on the
“essential” list for any visitor to Budapest
but more importantly, do try and take one of the guided
tours so that you can see the splendour of the interior
– guaranteed to take your breath away.
Tours in English are at 10am and
2pm but only on the days when Parliament is not in
session. So from the beginning of your stay, plan
which day you will take the tour. It is wise to be
there well before the time as queues form quickly.
The Houses of Parliament line the Danube
River for 880 ft and are reminiscent of the
British Houses of Parliament (on which they are based).
As so often happens in Hungary, this truly magnificent
building is an amazing mix of styles – the basic
plan is Baroque, the façade is neo Gothic and
neo renaissance, the interior embellishment eclectic.
The building is in two exactly matching halves from
the massive cupola in the middle. There is no way
to describe the richness of the ornamentation in the
Houses of Parliament, the only thing is to go and
see for yourself.
Extravagant, sumptuous, gracious, overpowering, rich,
extraordinary, over the top, opulent, lavish, elegant
– you will then have your own words to describe
the interior. Many consider it the most beautiful
Parliament Buildings in the world.
The dome stands 96 meters high and
is the building’s finest feature – from
the inside and from the outside. Below the dome are
the Hungarian Crown Jewels and the cupola is enhanced
by a magnificent rose petal chandelier. The ceremonial
staircase is awesome with 96 steps.
(The recurring 96 figure is no co-incidence –
it represents 896, the year when the Magyars arrived).
Other dramatic features are the stained glass windows,
the wall frescoes, the statues of past Kings of Hungary,
etc.
BUDAPEST TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS –
The sights below are “must do’s”
on any visit to Budapest. After you’ve been,
you’ll have your own list. Budapest has a wide
range of important sightseeing options
but many people go without a pre-prepared list of
what they want to see – this is wise because
around every corner in Budapest is something likely
to appeal to someone. Another point about sightseeing
in Budapest is that many people don’t have a
mental picture of the magnificent buildings
such as the Budapest Parliament Buildings, the Royal
Palace in Budapest, etc – despite the fact they
are stunning.
1. Spend some time on Castle
Hill, Buda Castle, Royal Palace, Obuda
2. Go to the Budapest
Citadella and The Freedom Monument
3. Walk up Andrassy
Street to Heroes Square
4. Grab a bit of Culture
in Budapest – Opera,
Concert, Folk Music, etc
5. Look at the wide Danube
River and cross over the Chain Bridge
6. Take a trip to somewhere outside
Budapest – Danube Bend, Visegrad,
Esztergom, Cruise on the Danube, Szentendre (St Andrew)
etc
7. Soothe your aches in a Thermal
Bath, visit Vajdahunyad Castle and
City Park (Varosliget)
8. Go on a trip to Statue’s
Park
9. Visit some Churches,
the Great Jewish Synagogue, St Stephen’s
Basilica, St Matthias Church
10. Admire the Houses
of Parliament but make sure to take a
tour of the
interior
