We are still in Budapest. I honestly don't wan to leave that city, I find it interesting to make posts, look at photos and remember how great I had it. The whole city has a positive energy, and every time I start browsing the gallery, I always feel happy when I come across Budapest. I look at the photos of that beautiful city, and it seems to be calling me to come visit again. I can't wait to go again. For now, just enjoy this way, through the blogs, because today, i.e. tonight, we are going to see the parliament building.
I visited the Parliament during the night, I did not arrive during the day, because I was visiting other sights of Budapest. I'm lucky, so the parliament is amazing at night, when the lights are turned on, it illuminates everything around it.
The Parliament building in Budapest is one of the most beautiful and complex buildings I have ever seen. It is extremely important, it is a symbol of Budapest and it stands right next to the Danube.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Hungary, then part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, experienced a boom. The country wants to show its wealth, power and cultural identity. And so, in 1880, a competition was announced for the construction of a parliament that would symbolize Hungarian greatness. The winner was Imre Steindl. He, an architect who will give his health and life to this project.
Construction began in 1885 and was completed in 1904. Although Steindl never saw his work completed, he went blind before the work was completed, he left Hungary something for all ages, the most beautiful parliament in Europe, and according to many, the world.
The Parliament in Budapest seems to have emerged from a fairy tale. Its style is Neo-Gothic, but a careful observer will see traces of Renaissance and Baroque, which gives it a special warmth and attracts attention. At 268 meters long and 96 meters high, the building is almost symmetrical and, interestingly, deliberately the same height as St. Stephen's Basilica, as a sign of balance between secular and spiritual authority.
It is decorated with as many as 242 statues of kings, dukes, philosophers, and even ordinary people. Inside, more than 691 rooms, 29 staircases, and kilometers of corridors covered with red carpets and gold ornaments. I can only imagine what it's like to walk through those corridors, unfortunately I'm not one of those people.
The Parliament building is not only an administrative seat. She is the emotional heart of the nation. Key decisions were made here through all political upheavals from Austria-Hungary, through Horthy's regime, socialism, all the way to modern democratic Hungary. Each era left its mark, but the building always remained steadfast.
During the 1956 revolution, thousands of people gathered in front of the parliament, demanding freedom. Many fell in the square in front. Today, those events live on in a quiet reverence felt among tourists and locals alike.
In the very center of the parliament, under a huge dome, is what Hungarians consider a symbol of their statehood, the Crown of Saint Stephen. This crown, which is over 800 years old, was used in the coronation of almost all Hungarian kings. Her crooked cross is famous, and legend has it that it became crooked when an angel came down to bless the ruler. Today, under permanent security, the crown stands in a glass stand, as a relic of the nation.
Although still the seat of the national assembly, the building is open to visitors. Guided tours are available in many languages and provide a rare opportunity to step inside the architectural wonder. When the sun sets behind Buda and the lights come on, the Parliament on the Pest side of the Danube shines like a golden castle. And every visitor, even for a moment, wants to be a part of that story.
The Parliament in Budapest is not only the seat of government. It is a symbol of the struggle for identity, a mirror of art, a guardian of history and a place of remembrance. When you stand in front of it, while the wind carries the scent of the Danube and the light illuminates its stone angels and kings, you are not just looking at architecture.
You are watching the people. You are looking at the past. You see pride.
I hope you enjoyed reading and looking at the photos. I enjoyed making this blog, I hope you did too. Until next time, "Regards!"
