The Austrian Parliament

The imposing building in front of you is the Austrian Parliament. With its neoclassical style and Greek-inspired architecture, it’s one of the most striking and recognisable landmarks along the Ring. Built between 1874 and 1883 during the grand redevelopment of the Ring, the architect drew heavy inspiration from his recent trip to Athens — and he certainly succeeded in bringing a piece of Greece to Vienna! Just look at the Athena statue atop the fountain, the figures of ancient historians along the staircase, or the winged victories in chariots on the rooftop. To understand the Parliament’s history, listen closely… After Prussia defeated Austria in 1867, the Habsburg Empire turned into a double monarchy, Austria-Hungary. This deal was known as the Austro-Hungarian Compromise, and the Parliament in Vienna became the Austrian seat of power. The compromise was later abolished in 1918 by the winners of the First World War, who founded the Republic of German-Austria, which became the Republic of Austria a year later. Since the constitution of 1920, this building has housed the National Council and Federal Council. The Parliament offers multilingual visits and tours, guiding visitors through one of Austria’s national cultural heritage sites.