Austrian Parliament Building

The Austrian Parliament Building on Vienna's Ringstrasse is the seat of the National Council and Federal Council and ranks among the most important parliamentary buildings in Europe. It was built between 1874 and 1883 under Emperor Franz Joseph I to designs by the Danish-Austrian architect Theophil von Hansen, as the Imperial Council Building of the Habsburg monarchy. Going against the prevailing historicism, Hansen chose strict neo-Renaissance with classical Greek references - the temple portico echoes the Acropolis and was meant to symbolise democracy. The Pallas Athene fountain in front shows the goddess of wisdom, deliberately chosen over a personified Austria as a politically neutral guardian. The building was fundamentally restored between 2018 and 2023 and is again open to the public; the Cafe Kelsen in the foyer and the rooftop restaurant can be visited without booking.