Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Inside the Parliament

The distinctive Greek revival building on Vienna's Ringstrasse houses Austria's Parliament.  Built in the late 1800s when Emperor Franz Josef had the city walls torn down and replaced with one of Europe's grandest boulevards, the building provided the first parliament for many of the citizens of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The columns are from Tyrolean marble.


The Federal Assembly meets in this room.  In the early days, representatives from throughout the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire met here.  Speaking half a dozen different languages. communication was difficult at best.  As shouting matches would ensue the sliding desktops were banged to drown out the voices of the opposition...



...resulting in what this political cartoon dubs a desk lid concert.
A stained and etched glass skylight graces the ceiling.

Lots of detail....


Cool chandeliers...

Snazzy snake doorhandles...


And a hallway vending machine that appears to offer beer....


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