| Parliament (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Parliament
Parliament
The Austrian Parliament Building (Parlament or Hohes Haus in German) was formerly known as the Reichsratsgebäude. It where the two Houses of the Parliament of Austria sit. The building is in the first district, or Innere Stadt, of Vienna on the Ringstraße just opposite the Volksgarten. Both the Hofburg Imperial Palace and the Palace of Justice are nearby.The Parlament building, a Neoclassical structure designed by the Danish architect Theophil Hansen, was built between 1874 and 1883. It is an example of Greek Revivalism and a nod to Greece as the seed-bed of democracy. Because of this the front is partly obscured at street level by the Corinthian portico. The interior may be visited with a guided tour when the parliament is not in session, and is worth a visit though some of the damage incurred during WWII is still being repaired.
Out the front is a prominent statue is of the Pallas Athene, the goddess of wisdom (Athenebrunnen). This was removed by the Austro-fascists who took power on the Ides of March 1934, putting Austrian democracy on hold. It was stored instead of destroyed and returned to it's rightful place after WWII.
Many Viennese attractions are nearby including the Volkstheater, Hofburg palace, Naturhistorisches Museum and Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Address:
Austrian Parliament Buildings
Dr Karl Renner Ring 3
1010
Wien
Austria
Transport:
U-Bhan: Volkstheater (U2, U3)
Bus / Tram : 1, 2, 46, 49, D, J
