Palace of Parliament, the most visited museum in Bucharest
You’ll definitely enjoy yourself – the people, the nightlife, the food, and the attractions, of course.
Speaking of attractions, you’re probably waiting to see things like the:
- Palace of Parliament
- Romanian Atheneum
- Cantacuzino Palace
- Village Museum
The first one mentioned surely caught your eye, right? It’s no wonder – it’s one of the main attractions that make Bucharest well-known worldwide.
Well, if you’re planning on visiting, here are five interesting things you should know:
1. It Wasn’t Always Called the People’s House
Did you know its original title was the House of the Republic? That’s because the building was meant to show the world how wealthy the Socialist Republic of Romania was back in the ’80s.
However, the building wasn’t finished before the Romanian Revolution of 1989. And, after the revolution, the building started to be commonly known as the People’s House.
It’s also worth noting that the building is called the Palace of the Parliament as well. The title was granted after it became the seat of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
2. The Building Is Visible from Space
If you visit the People’s House in Bucharest, you should keep in mind that you’re in one of the few places in the world that are visible from space.
That’s right – this massive attraction can actually be seen from the Moon. That’s mostly due to its impressive size.
3. The People’s House Has Quite a Touch of Dark History
Since this building was an extravagant project to revamp the image of Bucharest, a lot of work went into it. It’s actually estimated that between 20,000 and 100,000 people worked to build the People’s House in Bucharest.
What’s more, the workers even had to operate in three shifts to meet the deadlines. Unfortunately, such conditions eventually caused on-site accidents – many of them deadly.
It’s approximated that around 3,000 people lost their lives on the site of the People’s House in Bucharest.
4. There Are Actually Underground Tunnels Present underneath the Building
They were built to provide Nicolae Ceausescu – the Communist leader before 1989 – with an alternate escape route.
Their goal was to offer him a quick, safe path from the building to the airport. Of course, despite all these measures, the plan didn’t work out for him during the revolution.
5. It’s one of the Biggest Administrative Buildings You’ll Probably Visit
The People’s House in Bucharest is ranked as being the second-largest administrative building in the world. It’s second only to the US Pentagon!
It’s also the third-biggest building in the world, overall. And it’s the heaviest building in the world as well.
Want to Visit the People’s House in Bucharest and Fully Enjoy All the Sights Too?
You should know that the attraction is open for visits daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM – the last tour admission is at 3:30 PM. If you don’t want to bother with all that, you can always just book a tour.
Well, you’ll be happy to know this attraction is part of our popular Last Days of Communism in Romania tour. It’s only 4 hours long, and it will teach you everything you need to know about the Communist rule in Romania before 1989.
Also, while you’re in Bucharest, why not visit the neighboring country as well? We offer top-notch tours to Bulgaria as well – all in one day!
Arriving by plane or train? No problem! We can set you up with quality transfers directly to the city center – and even other cities too!