Austrian Parliament Building
Address
Dr. Karl Renner-Ring 3, 1017 Wien
GPS
48.208087, 16.358464902029
The Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna is where the two houses of the Austrian Parliament meet to conduct their sessions. The building is located on the Ringstraße boulevard in the First District (Innere Stadt), near Hofburg Palace and the Palace of Justice.
The Austrian Parliament building on Vienna’s Ringstrasse has been the site of debates since December 4, 1883. Every year, the National Council and the Federal Council hold around 280 sessions together. This massive structure spans about 14,000 square feet. Although it was based on an older design, the National Council chamber now features a massive glass ceiling and contemporary furnishings.
The antique theater-inspired historic chamber is another must-see. The over 1,000 square metre Hall of Columns in the lobby area is available for gatherings and receptions. It features 24 columns made entirely of marble, each one carefully carved from a single block.
Complete renovations and an addition were made to the building between 2018 and 2022. Along with this, the Demokratikum, a brand-new museum, was established. There are twenty-seven media stations where visitors can learn about the origins and workings of Austria’s democratic system. To what do you adhere politically? – Vote on topics that have already been discussed in Parliament and see how your results stack up against those of your elected officials. The library’s reading room is the perfect place to deepen one’s understanding of the material just learned. Discounts are available for kids and teens as well.
From the glassed-in gallery, onlookers can observe the chamber’s National and Federal Council sessions at no cost. There is a wide variety of free guided tours available. Parliament is a multifaceted building with several areas of interest, including the building’s design and the numerous items of art that were relocated there after the building was renovated. Heldenplatz is the focal point of the “Demokratie.Macht.Orte” (Democracy.Power.Places) tour, which provides insight into the history of parliamentarism in Austria.
