Discover Bucharest: Interesting facts about Parliament’s Palace, visiting tips

Right in the middle of Romania’s capital lies a colossal building: the Parliament's Palace, also known as the People’s House. You just can’t miss it if you are visiting Bucharest. The massive building, which was built at the order of late communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, is a landmark for the Romanian capital. Most people are impressed by its size, as it is the world’s largest administrative building (for civilian use) and the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon in the US. It is also the world’s heaviest building, as it was made from 700,000 tons of steel and bronze, plus 1 million cubic meters of marble, 3,500 tons of crystal glass, and 900,000 cubic meters of wood. It has some 1,000 rooms and is 12 stories tall. About 100,000 people worked to build this huge building, with some 20,000 people working in three shifts 24/7 in the peak periods. A few thousand workers died on the construction site, according to unofficial reports. Moreover, between 1984 and 1990, some 12,000 soldiers have participated in the construction, according to data posted on cic.cdep.ro. The building was constructed almost entirely of materials made in Romania. Although the initial project had 80,000 sqm, People’s House has a total area of 365,000 sqm. Some 20 churches and 10,000 houses were destroyed and more than 57,000 families were moved in the late 1970s so the authorities could make room for the giant building. At the time of the Romanian Revolution in 1989, 60% of the building was completed. The work continued between 1992 and 1996. The total construction costs have been estimated at up to EUR 3 billion, according to a valuation made in 2006. The People's House is now housing the Romanian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, which is why it is now known as the parliament's Palace. It also contains a museum, several conference and exhibition halls and salons which are used for a wide variety of other purposes. So, with this in mind, maybe you might consider visiting the giant building in downtown Bucharest. If so, here are some information on its location, visiting rules, and tariffs: the Parliament’s Palace is located in the center of Bucharest, in District 5, near the Izvor park and Constitutiei Square. It is framed by Izvor Street, Natiunile Unite Boulevard, Libertatii Boulevard, and Calea 13 Septembrie Avenue. It is open for visiting between 10:00 and 16:00 (the last tour at 15:30). You might want to call in advance to find out at what time the tours start and in what language they are available. For information and bookings use these numbers: + 40 21 311 36 11 and + 40 21 414 14 26. The tariffs vary depending on what type of tour you want to take:

• the Standard tour: RON 25 per person (EUR 5.55)
• the City Panorama – Terrace (access by elevator): RON 15 per person (EUR 3.33)
• the Basement tour (2 levels down the stairs): RON 10 per person (EUR 2.22)
• the Standard tour + the City Panorama – Terrace (access by elevator): RON 35 per person (EUR 7.77)