Visit the Budapest Parliament and get lost in the country's largest building

The city of Budapest was born in 1873 from the union of the towns of Buda, Pest and Óbuda. The city then decided to assert its sovereignty and power by building several monuments in the city. Numerous monuments were built, and the parliament building was the greatest ambition of this undertaking. It is the real symbol of the new economic power of the newly created city. The project was the result of a competition organised by the city. Architect Imre Steindl won the competition with an idea inspired by the Palace of Westminster, the United Kingdom's parliament. This inspiration can be seen above all in the façade, which is symmetrical and above all in the neo-Gothic style of the English building.

It took a thousand people, 40 million bricks, half a million semi-precious stones and 40 kg of gold to build, and was inaugurated during the millennium celebrations. Like other buildings, it contains a number of references to the millennium of the Hungarian nation. Its dome is 96 m high, a figure not chosen at random since it recalls the year 896, when the Magyar tribes settled in the Carpathian basin. It has in common with other places in the city the statue of Stephen 1st (975-1038), which stands in the dome room under the 96 m dome. Some of his personal belongings, such as his crown, are on display here.

The site is so emblematic of the country that a visit is highly recommended. Tours in French are available at 11am and 1.30pm. The walk through the building is breathtaking, there is a lot of detail and if you like bling-bling you will appreciate the gilding and the red carpet. Photos are not allowed in most of the rooms, except for the most memorable: the former upper room. This is the room you'll remember after your visit, with its gilded walls, marble columns and throne-like seat overlooking the room... The richness of the ornamentation is truly astonishing. This room is an exact copy of the Chamber of Deputies, which is in use.

There are also a number of offers that include a visit to parliament as part of a complete tour of the city, so you don't have to queue at parliament and can go straight in. Without this, the wait can be long, and for me it took half an hour. The companies offering this service generally run tours lasting an average of 4 hours, with prices varying from one to two, depending on whether you prefer a private guide or don't mind being in a group.

A visit on your own costs around £70 per person, while the group rate is around £40 for a visit of reasonable length with minibus transport. It should be noted that EU citizens often benefit from reduced rates, with a thought for our Canadian friends. However, for those who are not afraid of walking, group excursions of this type are very affordable and offer an accompanied tour of all the city's monuments.

As far as restaurants are concerned, the parliament district is very well stocked with cafés and small bistros. All you have to do is wander around the adjacent streets and make your choice. If it's time for a snack, we recommend trying kürtőskalács, a typical Hungarian spit-roasted pastry. It is a hollow brioche flavoured with spices, covered in sugar and often with an additional flavour: cinnamon, coconut, chocolate etc. Baking it over a fire caramelises the sugar and creates a beautiful crust. These delicacies are often available from the street vendors found all over the city. What's more, they only cost between 300 and 500 forint, that is to say between 70 pence and 1 pound and 10 pence. Alternatively, there is a snack bar selling sandwiches and cakes next to the parliamentary ticket office.

⭐ Charming Art Deco Flat

If the immensity of Parliament has transcended you and you want to stay close to it, the surrounding area offers several hotels. These have the double advantage of being close to the monument but above all right in the city centre, so you can enjoy lively evenings and activities just a stone's throw away. The editors have chosen the Charming Art Deco Flat hotel, with its inner courtyard typical of Budapest buildings. Perfect for a couple's stay, several rooms offer whirlpool baths and classy, typical decoration.