Bucharest’s Palace of Parliament, closed for tourists due to lack of guides

Tourists can’t currently visit the Parliament’s Palace (also known as the People’s House) in Bucharest, one of the most important tourist attractions in Romania, as the institution's contracts with the guides have ended. The problem started at the beginning of February, Ioana Bran, Secretary of the Chamber of Deputies, told local Economica.net. However, the issue should be solved soon as the Chamber of Deputies recently approved a draft decision under which 17 part-time guides would be hired through contest. Thus, the Palace of Parliament will have 127 employees, reports local News.ro. Ioana Bran said on Tuesday that the visiting activities at the Parliament’s Palace would most likely begin next week, but “not at full capacity as the contests for employment will probably not be completed by then.” “Until now, the tourist guide services have been organized and secured by an estimated number of 50 guides, freelancers,” she said. The Parliament’s Palace is a landmark for the Romanian capital. The massive building, which was built at the order of late communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, attracts many Romanian and foreign tourists every year. According to Ioana Bran, “in 2012-2016, around 1 million tourists visited the Parliament’s Palace through the visits department.” Most people are impressed by the Palace’s 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. Discover Bucharest: Interesting facts about Parliament’s Palace, visiting tips Curious to take a tour of the second biggest building in the world? Romania's Parliament's Palace can now be visited online Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com