The Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest claimed the top spot in a new ranking by the British travel magazine LoveExploring. The editors evaluated architectural landmarks across European countries. Then, they picked one standout building from each country to showcase the best architecture on the continent.
The final list features 40 iconic locations, including historic palaces, medieval castles, famous abbeys, and modern marvels. Surprisingly enough, Hungary’s national icon beat world-famous landmarks like Rome’s Trevi Fountain, Vienna’s Belvedere Palace, and France’s Mont-Saint-Michel.
The Hungarian Parliament Wins First Place
The Hungarian Parliament Building stands proudly on the banks of the Danube River. No doubt, it serves as an iconic symbol for Budapest and remains the largest parliament building in Europe. In fact, workers finished constructing this Neo-Gothic masterpiece, which holds nearly 700 rooms inside its massive structure.
In addition, the building features a grand facade, a massive central dome, rich frescoes, and colorful stained glass windows. These details make it one of the most unique public buildings on the continent. Furthermore, the illuminated palace looks breathtaking at night, which explains why travelers constantly photograph it.
Highlights from the Top Ranking Sites
- Vienna and Switzerland Claim Top Spots
- Vienna’s Belvedere Palace took second place. Prince Eugene of Savoy built this Baroque palace in the early 18th century as a summer residence. Today, it houses famous artworks like Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss.
- Meanwhile, Chillon Castle in Switzerland took third place. No wonder – this 1,000-year-old island fortress sits on Lake Geneva and remains one of Switzerland’s most popular attractions.
- Historic Landmarks and Modern Wonders:
- Ireland’s Kylemore Abbey landed in fourth place. This 19th-century romantic castle later became a Benedictine monastery.
- Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain grabbed fifth place. According to the legend, throwing a coin into the fountain guarantees your return to the city.
- Furthermore, Germany’s Würzburg Residence earned sixth place thanks to its massive ceiling fresco by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
- Modern Towers and Coastal Abbeys:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Avaz Twist Tower placed seventh. Again, no surprise here, this 142-meter glass skyscraper offers panoramic city views from its observation deck.
- Meanwhile, France’s historic Mont-Saint-Michel took eighth place. This medieval island abbey attracts millions of visitors every single year.
- Cultural Hubs and Royal Palaces:
- Iceland’s Harpa Concert Hall achieved ninth place. Designers shaped its colorful glass facade to resemble local basalt columns.
- Finally, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam secured tenth place. Believe it or not, builders constructed this massive 17th-century structure on top of 13,000 wooden stilts.
Whether you agree with the exact order or not, Europe clearly offers incredible architectural treasures. All together, each of these famous landmarks deserves a spot on your travel bucket list!
Soure: www.utazomajom.hu
