Austrian Parliament Building

Built to hold gatherings of the Imperial Council, this magnificent palace is one of the largest in Vienna, extending over some 13 hectares of ground. It serves as the seat of the Austrian Parliament, as well as the site for the swearing-in of every Austrian president. The building, finished in 1883, was designed by the architect von Hansen. It owes its unique style to the heavy influence of ancient Greek architecture, visible on the decorative statues as well as on the entrance, modeled after the Erechteion Temple in Athens. This has a deep symbolic meaning, as Greece is considered to be the birthplace of democracy. Since 2017, the building is undergoing its first general reconstruction. Guided tours of the lavish chambers in this imposing neoclassical building are available at the visitors' center.