A riverside encounter with Hungarian history The Parliament—curiosities and experiences

It may come as a surprise, but within the walls of the Parliament lie invaluable treasures. During the construction of the Parliament, around half a million gemstones were incorporated, and roughly 40 kilograms of 22–23 carat gold adorn the interiors. Even without its gold decorations, the Parliament would be a truly magnificent building, as it houses the most important symbol of Hungarian statehood, the primary coronation emblem—the Holy Crown, exhibited in the central hall.

The history of the Parliament began with a grand design competition. Few people know that, of the submitted entries, not one but three buildings were ultimately realised. On Kossuth Square, opposite the Parliament, stand the old Ethnographic Museum and the Ministry of Agriculture. Thus a single square is framed by three distinct monumental buildings, evoking the atmosphere of Budapest at the turn of the century.

As you walk through the corridors and look up at the Parliament’s dome, it’s worth considering the immense human effort that went into building it. Construction lasted 17 years, with nearly 100,000 workers ensuring that the most important decisions of the Hungarian nation could be made in a fitting environment. The numbers are interesting in themselves, but the Hungarian Parliament rightly earned contemporary admiration for the engineering feats achieved during its construction, such as the heating and cooling system, considered the most advanced of its time. 

The four-storey Parliament, covering 18,000 square metres, was built using construction materials sourced almost entirely from Hungary. The limestone, the timber and the decorative elements all came from domestic sources, with one striking exception. The eight marble columns next to the main staircase were imported from Sweden, acting as European ‘guests’ in the Hungarian Parliament. Visit the Parliament to admire the exquisite craftsmanship of its gold decorations, gemstone inlays, marble and stone carvings and woodwork. 

No special knowledge of numerology is needed to understand the meaning of the number 96, which appears in several places throughout the Parliament building. The Parliament’s dome rises exactly 96 metres, and the main staircase also has 96 steps leading upward. This references the year of the Hungarian Conquest, 896, meaning that each step brings visitors a little closer to the roots of Hungarian history. With its 365 towers, the Hungarian Parliament symbolises the nation’s unity throughout the year, each tower representing a day.

If Budapest is the destination, there’s only one thing to do when planning: prioritise. It goes without saying that the Parliament deserves the top spot on the list of sights.