Frommer's Review
Budapest's great Parliament building, completed in 1902, was built to the eclectic design of Imre Steindl. It mixes a predominant neo-Gothic style with a neo-Renaissance dome. Standing proudly on the Danube bank, visible from almost any riverside vantage point, it has been from the outset one of Budapest's symbols, though until 1989 a democratically elected government had convened here exactly once (just after World War II, before the Communist takeover). Built at a time of extreme optimism and national purpose, the building was self-consciously intended to be one of the world's great houses of Parliament, and it remains one of the largest state buildings in Europe. The main cupola is decorated with statues of Hungarian kings.
On either side of the cupola are waiting rooms leading into the respective houses of Parliament. The members of Parliament are said to gather in these waiting rooms during breaks in the session to smoke and chat -- note the cigar holders on the side of the doors. The waiting room on the Senate side (blue carpet) is adorned with statues of farmers, peasants, tradesmen, and workers. The figures that decorate the waiting room on the Representatives' side (red carpet) are of sailors, soldiers, and postal officials. The interior decor is predominantly neo-Gothic. The ceiling frescoes are by Károly Lotz, Hungary's best-known fresco artist. Note the large carpet from the small Hungarian village of Békésszentandrás, which is purportedly the biggest handmade carpet in Europe. The Parliament is also home to the legendary crown jewels of St. Stephen, which were moved here from the National Museum as part of the Hungarian millennium celebration.
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