Lesser known facts about this inhumane punishment
The Hungarian Parliament Building is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary. Located in Budapest on the banks of the Danube River, this is one of the country's most recognized landmarks.
Dating back to 1902, the Hungarian Parliament Building is a popular tourist attraction, with many of its grand halls and chambers accessible to the public. Displayed in the central hall is the Holy Crown of Hungary. The entire building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The colossal Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is the seat of the Parliament of Romania. According to Guinness World Records, this is the heaviest building in the world.
The palace was built on the orders of Nicolae Ceaușescu (1918–1989), the president of Communist Romania, and constructed over a 13-year period. Its vast dimensions mean that only about 30% of the palace is used at any one time, while the rest of the building remains empty.
One of the most iconic landmarks in the world, the UNESCO-protected Palace of Westminster in London is often referred to as the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben, the great bell of the striking clock, is located in the adjoining Elizabeth Tower.
Britain's Members of Parliament convene in the palace's lower house, or House of Commons. Visitors are able to tour the palace and sit in the public galleries and watch MPs question the government and debate current issues.
Berlin's original Reichstag building was inaugurated in 1894 and functioned until 1933, when it was severely damaged by fire. The semi-ruined building fell into disrepair after the Second World War, and it wasn't until German reunification in 1990 that new life was breathed into the historic structure.
The Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. is the meeting place of the United States Congress. The original building suffered damage in 1814 during the sacking of Washington by the British.
Renovation of the building included the addition of a massive dome. It is arguably one of the most famous man-made landmarks in America.
India's present seat of parliament is housed in a huge circular structure in New Delhi. The building dates back to 1927, when it was used by the Imperial Legislative Council. Following the end of British rule, it eventually became home to the Indian Parliament.
In December 2020, the foundation stone of the new parliament building was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sited opposite the existing colonial structure, the new building is set to be completed in 2022, coinciding with 75 years of the nation's independence.
A defining Ottawa landmark, the suite of buildings collectively known as The Hill is the home of the Parliament of Canada. The soaring Peace Tower stands 92 m (302 ft) and is embellished with assorted stone carvings of gargoyles. grotesques, and friezes.
Parliament Hill attracts approximately three million visitors each year. The House of Commons, Senate, library, and aforementioned Peace Tower can all be explored.
One of the world's most serene-looking parliament buildings is the National Assembly of the Seychelles, located at Ile du Port, Victoria.
Characterized by open verandas and balconies, the island nation's government building resembles an upscale beach resort complex. A bank of solar panels affixed to the facade provide a sustainable energy source.
The astonishing Buddhist monastery of Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, serves as the seat of the Druk Desi, the head of Bhutan's civil government.
Tashichho Dzong has been the seat of the country's government since 1968, the year in which the present fortress-temple dates back to.
Officially opened in 1982, the Sri Lankan Parliament Complex is set on an island in a reclaimed lake on the site of a historic royal citadel in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the administrative capital.
The buildings, designed by respected local architect Geoffrey Bawa, follow a symmetrical pattern and are covered in copper roofing.
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The Scottish Parliament Building within the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Edinburgh was inaugurated in 2004. The building's unique design signature (no two elevations are the same) is the hallmark of Catalan architect Enric Miralles, who died before the project was completed.
The building's interior highlight is the Scottish Members of Parliament debating chamber, where seating is arranged in a hemicycle under a laminated oak and stainless steel roof.
In 1999, the building once again became home to the German parliament, serving as the modern Bundestag. Its most striking feature is the dome, which affords views of the debating chamber below, and a 360-degree cityscape panorama.
Located in the Finnish capital Helsinki, Parliament House was completed in 1931, its solid muscular geometry forbidding to the eye.
A combination of Neoclassicism and modernism architectural styles, Parliament House is a formidable granite structure, noted for the facade lined by fourteen columns with Corinthian capitals.
Looming over Tiananmen Square in Beijing is the Great Hall of the People, where the ruling Communist Party of China convenes.
The immense Great Auditorium, where political representatives meet, can seat an impressive 10,000 delegates, and is a popular stop on any guided tour of the building complex.
The Binnenhof looks as if it belongs in a fairy tale, but in fact houses the meeting place of both houses of the States General of the Netherlands, as well as the Ministry of General Affairs. It's also home to the office of the prime minister of the Netherlands.
Located in The Hague, much of the Binnenhof dates back to the 13th century, making it among the oldest parliament buildings in the world still in use.
Parliament buildings serve as seats of government. Standing as symbols of democracy (and sometimes autocracy), these civic structures are very often grand in their dimensions and seen as landmarks in their own right. In fact, some of the most impressive parliament buildings are also popular tourist attractions and can be appreciated as part of a guided tour.
Click through and find out where to find the best seats of government.
The world's most impressive parliament buildings
These remarkable buildings are often sought after by tourists
TRAVEL Architecture
Parliament buildings serve as seats of government. Standing as symbols of democracy (and sometimes autocracy), these civic structures are very often grand in their dimensions and seen as landmarks in their own right. In fact, some of the most impressive parliament buildings are also popular tourist attractions and can be appreciated as part of a guided tour.
Click through and find out where to find the best seats of government.