Palace of the Parliament | Bucharest

The Palace of the Parliament measures 270 meters in length and 245 meters in width, with a height of 84 meters above the ground line. The structure occupies a total surface area of 365,000 square meters and contains a total volume of 2,550,000 cubic meters. It consists of 12 stories above ground and eight underground levels, including a nuclear bunker with concrete walls 1.5 meters thick.

Material consumption for the edifice included 1,000,000 cubic meters of marble and 700,000 tons of steel and bronze. Internal fittings utilize 3,500 tons of crystal glass across 480 chandeliers and 1,409 ceiling lights. Surface coverings include 900,000 cubic meters of wood and 200,000 square meters of woven carpets. The architectural style is classified as Neo-Neoclassical and Postmodern Socialist Realism.

Geographical Coordinates

The site is located at Strada Izvor 2-4, Bucharest, Romania. Precise global positioning is recorded at 44°25′39″N latitude and 26°05′15″E longitude. The building occupies the crest of Dealul Spirii (Spirea's Hill) within Sector 5.

The landmark is positioned 1.2 kilometers west of the Piata Unirii transportation hub. It is situated 1 kilometer west of the Cathedral for the Salvation of the Romanian People. The northern perimeter of the building faces Izvor Park across the Bulevardul Națiunile Unite.

Access Logistics

Public entry is restricted to the northern facade via the designated visitor entrance at Strada Izvor 2-4. Identification in the form of a national ID card or passport is a mandatory requirement for security clearance. The Chamber of Deputies maintains a separate entrance on the same northern side for official personnel.

The site is served by STB bus line 385, which operates at 15-minute intervals from Piata Unirii to the Palatul Parlamentului stop. The Izvor Metro Station (M1 and M3 lines) is located approximately 500 meters north of the main gate. The surrounding terrain consists of a paved incline ascending from the Bulevardul Libertății toward the building foundation.

Historical Markers

Groundbreaking occurred on June 25, 1984, under the direction of chief architect Anca Petrescu and a staff of 700 architects. The project was initiated by Nicolae Ceaușescu following the 1977 earthquake as part of "Project Bucharest." Construction required the demolition of 7 square kilometers of the historic city center and the relocation of 40,000 residents.

The building reached 60% completion by the Romanian Revolution in December 1989. Secondary construction phases occurred between 1992 and 1997 to finalize the primary administrative sectors. The structure was originally designated as "Casa Republicii" (House of the Republic) before being renamed "Palatul Parlamentului" (Palace of the Parliament).

Insider Observation

The doors of the Nicolae Bălcescu Hall represent a specific material anomaly as they are made of tropical wood. These were provided as a state gift from Mobutu Sese Seko, the former president of Zaire, rather than sourced from Romanian forests. A 20-kilometer network of subterranean tunnels connects the basement levels to other state institutions.

The building experiences a measurable annual vertical displacement of 6 millimeters due to the compression of sediment layers under its 4,098,500-ton mass. Visitors may observe specific serial numbers on the brass hardware of the heavy monumental doors. Individual crystal components in the 5-ton chandelier in the C.A. Rosetti Hall are identifiable by unique geometric cut patterns.

Surrounding Environmental Context

The northern boundary of the site is defined by the 17-hectare Izvor Park and the Dâmbovița River. To the east lies the Bulevardul Unirii, a 3.5-kilometer axial road designed to be 30 centimeters wider than the Champs-Élysées. The southern perimeter is bordered by the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense.

Neighboring vegetation includes stands of Quercus pubescens (downy oak) and landscaped grass verges within the 66,000-square-meter grounds. Local infrastructure includes the Bucharest Court of Appeal located to the northeast. The Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel is situated 400 meters to the west on Calea 13 Septembrie.