Parliament

The parliament building, designed by Imre Steindl and completed in 1902, has 690 sumptuously decorated rooms but you’ll only get to see three on a guided tour of the North Wing: the main staircase and landing, where the Crown of St Stephen, the nation’s most important national icon, is on display, along with the ceremonial sword, orb and the oldest object among the coronation regalia, the 10th-century Persian-made sceptre with a crystal head depicting a lion; the Loge Hall; and the Congress Hall, where the House of Lords of the one-time bicameral assembly sat until 1944. The building is a blend of many architectural styles (neo-Gothic, neo-Romanesque, neobaroque) and overall works very well. Unfortunately, what was spent on the design wasn’t matched in the building materials. The ornate structure was surfaced with a porous form of limestone that does not resist pollution very well. Renovations began almost immediately after it opened and will continue until the building crumbles. Members of parliament sit in the National Assembly Hall in the South Wing from February to June, and September to December. You can join a tour in any of eight languages – they depart continually in Hungarian, but the English-language ones are at 10am, noon and 2pm. To avoid dis­appointment, book ahead in person.