Places of Interest in Vienna

Parliament (Parlament)

Karl Renner Ring 3, A-1010, Wien, Website: www.parlinkom.gv.at, U-Bahn: Rathaus

The grand Parliament building was designed by the Danish architect Theophil Hansen and constructed between and 1883 and 1918. The design is a mix of neo-Renaissance and classical Greek architecture, the Greek elements representing a nod to the cradle of democracy. The building was originally designed to accommodate the representatives of the various minorities within the sprawling Austro-Hungarian Empire, but was to serve in this capacity for less than 40 years.

Nowadays, it’s home to the Austrian Parliament, which sits in two chambers, operating in a similar fashion to the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom. The Nationalrat (National Council) is responsible for developing and passing laws, whereas the Bundesrat (Federal Council) must ratify new laws. The fountain statue at the front of the building was created by Karl Kundemann and represents Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom.

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