Description of the attraction
The Palace of the Parliament has already been erected in modern history, but it is considered the hallmark of Bucharest - because of the scale of the construction. Twice marked by the Guinness Book of Records - as one of the largest civil buildings in the world and as the most expensive structure. Construction began in 1984 with the destruction of the fashionable quarters of the center of the capital, where medieval mansions, valuable for their architectural style, churches and monasteries were located.
The palace was conceived by the leader of the country of Ceausescu as the nucleus of the new center of Bucharest. The totalitarian mega project impressed everyone - from the volume of labor costs to the cost of materials used for construction and interior decoration. Only Romanian marble consumed about a million cubic meters. Fantastic funds were spent on brocade curtains with gold and silver trim. Several tons of crystal, 900 cubic meters of valuable wood, etc. were consumed. In the palace, towering 86 meters, an underground part was built with a depth of 92 meters.
The incredible high cost of construction against the background of the general poverty of the inhabitants of Romania caused a natural protest mood in the society. It was on the inner square of the palace that an uprising began at the end of 1989, which ended with the liberation of the country from communism.
The original name, House of the People, after the overthrow of the dictator was changed to the derogatory - House of Ceausescu, and only then - to the Palace of Parliament. Today it is open to tourists. The eclectic postmodern style combines a wide variety of elements. The scale itself is mainly interesting for visitors: magnificent halls decorated with gilding and stucco molding, luxurious galleries decorated with sculptures and tapestries. The building also houses the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The controversial symbol of totalitarianism is currently one of the most famous monuments in Romania and the pride of Bucharest.
