Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary

The Hungarian Parliament Building, called orsaːkhaːz in hungarian, which translates to "House of the Country" or "House of the Nation", also known as the Parliament of Budapest, after its location, is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary, a notable landmark of Hungary, and a popular tourist destination in Budapest. It is situated on Kossuth Square, in the Pest side of the city, on the eastern bank of the Danube. It was designed by Hungarian architect, Imre Steindl in neo-Gothic style, and opened in 1902. It has been the largest building in Hungary, since its completion.
Budapest, was united from three cities in 1873, namely Buda, Óbuda, and Pest. Seven years later, the Diet resolved to establish, a new representative parliament building, expressing the sovereignty of the nation. The building was planned to face the Danube River. An international competition was held for the building plan, and Imre Steindl emerged as the victor; the plans of two other competitors were later also realized in the form of the Ethnographic Museum, and the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, both facing the Parliament Building. Construction from the winning plan, was started in 1885, and the building was inaugurated on the presumed, 1,000th anniversary of the country, in 1896. The keys to the building, being handed over in 1902, however, It was not fully completed until 1904. The architect of the building, first went blind, and then later died, before its completion.

About 100,000 people were involved, in its construction, during which 40 million bricks, half a million precious stones, and 40 kg of gold were used. Since World War II, the legislature became unicameral, and today the government uses, only a small portion of the building. During the People's Republic of Hungary, a red star perched on the top of the dome, but it was removed in 1990, after the fall of communism. Mátyás Szűrös, declared the Hungarian Republic from the balcony, facing Kossuth Lajos Square, on 23 October 1989.
The Parliament Building, is built in the Gothic Revival style; it has a symmetrical façade, and a central dome. The dome is Renaissance Revival architecture. The parliament, is also largely symmetrical from the inside, with two identical parliament halls, on the opposing sides of the building. One of the two halls is still in use today, for sessions of the Hungarian National Assembly, the other for ceremonies, conferences, and guided tours. It is 268 m long, and 123 m wide. Its interior includes 10 courtyards, 13 passenger, and freight elevators, 27 gates, 29 staircases and 691 rooms (which includes more than 200 offices). With its height of 96 m (315 ft), it used to be one of the two tallest buildings in Budapest, along with Saint Stephen's Basilica, until the MOL Campus topped out, in 2021. The number 96 refers to the nation's millennium, 1896, and the conquest of the later Kingdom of Hungary, in 896. It is free to enter before 8 am.

One of the famous parts of the building, is the hexadecagonal (sixteen-sided) central hall, with huge chambers adjoining it: the Lower House, and the Upper House. The modern National Assembly, is unicameral and meets in the Lower House, while the Upper House is used as a conference and meeting room. The Holy Crown of Hungary, which is also depicted in the coat of arms of Hungary, has been displayed in the central hall since 2000. Due to its extensive surface, and detailed handiwork, the building is almost always under renovation.
The building has been a UNESCO World Heritage site, since 1987, as part of the Banks of the Danube.