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The Palace of Parliament, Bucharest Facts & Worksheets

The Palace of the Parliament, initially known as the "House of the Republic," is the most spectacular Romanian project completed during Nicolae Ceauseșcu's dictatorship. The building, located in Bucharest, Romania, is an essential piece of Romanian history.

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The Palace of the Parliament, initially known as the “House of the Republic,” is the most spectacular Romanian project completed during Nicolae Ceauseșcu’s dictatorship. The building, located in Bucharest, Romania, is an essential piece of Romanian history. The Palace of the Parliament was built between 1984 and 1997, and its colossal dimensions dominate the cityscape. 

See the fact file below for more information about The Palace of Parliament, or you can download our 26-page Palace of Parliament worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • It is the world’s largest administrative structure, measuring 240 meters long, 270 meters wide, and 84 meters tall. At the same time, after the Pentagon, it is the world’s second-largest in terms of area.
  • The Palace comprises 12 floors and eight underground levels, the last of which is an atomic bunker. 
  • A nuclear war was one of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s fears. Thus, he had the bunker linked to the main governmental institutions and various private flats by 20 km of tunnels. 
  • In addition, the bunker had direct phone connectivity with all military forces in Romania. The Palace of the Parliament is also the world’s heaviest structure. 
  • The building sinks by 6mm per year due to its massive proportions. Following the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the Palace was renamed “People’s House” or “People’s Palace” (“Casa Poporului”).
  • The Palace of Parliament (People’s Palace) was constructed as part of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s Project Bucharest renovation plan. 
  • After the devastating earthquake in 1977, he designed it to duplicate Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital. 
  • In 1971, Ceaușescu visited China and North Korea and was fascinated by the personality cults surrounding Mao Zedong and Kim Il-Sung. 
  • Between 20,000 and 100,000 individuals were hired to work on the construction of the Parliament Palace. However, thousands died, with some specialists estimating as many as 3,000. 
  • The structure was developed by a team of 700 architects led by principal architect Anca Petrescu.
  • As a socialist country in Eastern Europe, the Palace was to symbolize the success of communism in Romania while also serving as the home of the Ceausescu family – this is why all rooms are large and plentiful. 
  • In reality, with an estimated worth of more than three billion euros, its luxury and excessive décor make it the most costly administrative building in the world. 
  • The events of December 1989, resulting in the communist regime’s overthrow, transformed the People’s House from a palace appropriate for a dictator-president to the seat of democratic governance.
  • Today, the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest serves as an administrative structure for the Romanian Parliament, which includes the Palace of the Chamber of Deputies, the Chamber of Deputies, and the Romanian Senate. 
  • Since 2004, the spectacular structure has also housed one of Bucharest’s most important art institutions, the National Museum of Contemporary Art.
  • The building, located in the city center, is also a popular tourist destination, and you may visit it on guided tours while in Bucharest or as part of a full-day Bucharest city trip. 
  • The day cruise also serves as a sightseeing tour, with stops at tourist destinations like the Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum.
  • During the iMapp competition or city days, the Palace of the Parliament is also used for vivid light shows.

STRUCTURE

  • A 12-story structure that is 270 meters long and 245 meters broad, with 48 meters visible above ground and 15 meters buried below. 
  • You rarely see a structure as massive as Bucharest’s Palace of Parliament. 
  • When Romanian tyrant Nicolae Ceauşescu directed the construction of this opulent structure, he had to pay the price with a large portion of Bucharest’s historic city center. 
  • A whole neighborhood, stadium, churches, convents, and synagogues were leveled to make way.
  • The figures involved in the construction of the Parliamentary Palace are astonishing. The building’s design and construction employed 700 architects and 20,000 employees. 
  • Only Romanian materials were permitted, including a million cubic meters of marble, 700,000 tonnes of steel and bronze, 3,500 tonnes of crystal, 900,000 cubic meters of wood, and 200,000 square meters of carpets. 
  • The result is a massive structure that rivals the Giza pyramids in bulk. There are around 1,000 rooms, numerous hallways, walkways, enormous staircases, and at least 40 lifts. 
  • The overall area is 340,000 square meters. 
  • The Palace of the Parliament is thus the world’s second-largest building, behind the American Pentagon in Washington. 
  • The Palace is not only the heaviest but also the most expensive structure in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. 
  • The modest part exposed to the public is elegantly furnished on its own. Giant crystal chandeliers, mosaics, and gold leaf sparkle from every angle; silver and gold are sewn into the draperies.
  • Despite its gold and crystal, the Palace has been compared to a massive Stalinist wedding cake. But it hasn’t stopped an international conference, a notable wedding, a film shoot, or a fashion show from taking place here. 
  • The Palace has a special place in the hearts of celebrities. Michael Jackson ended a press conference in Budapest with a moonwalk, then stood on the balcony and shouted “I love you, Budapest” to stunned fans. 
  • Shakira has also performed here, and Top Gear presenters have raced through the underground tunnels to demonstrate how massive this structure truly is.

IN POP CULTURE

  • The Parliamentary Palace has appeared in several films, most notably as the Vatican in the 2018 horror thriller The Nun. 
  • Other projects in the works include Jonah Hill’s War Dogs, Nicolas Cage’s Dying of the Light, and Sharon Stone and Andy Garcia’s What About Love (2022).
  • It was also featured in a Top Gear episode titled ‘Romanian GT Road Trip to Find the Transfagarasan Highway” in 2009.

FUN FACTS

  • The Parliament Palace can be seen from the Moon.

The Great Wall of China and the Pentagon are not the only human-made structures visible from the Moon. The Palace of the Parliament is another one of these one-of-a-kind and spectacular structures.

  • Bigger than the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

Cheops’ Pyramid in Egypt has a capacity of 2.550.000 m3, which is quite large for a building, yet, believe it or not, the Romanian Palace of Parliament is bigger by 2%.

  • A 28-year-old woman leads a team of 400 architects.

Romania, while being a communist country at the time, was focused on performance rather than gender discrimination. 

A young lady named Anca Petrescu oversaw the construction process, which involved 400 architects. She was only 28 at the time.

  • Figures for Building and Decorating

They needed 1.000.000 m3 of marble, 900.000 m3 of wood essences, 3.500 tons of crystal, 220.000 m2 of carpets, and 3.500 m2 of calfskin to build the Palace of the Parliament. 

Furthermore, all of the materials used were of Romanian origin. The sole exceptions are Nicolae Balcescu Hall’s doors. 

Ceausescu received them as a gift from his friend, African tyrant Mobutu Sese Seko, President of the Republic of Zaire.

  • It all came down to size.

Ceausescu was determined to build the world’s largest Parliament Palace. The structure comprises 20 levels (eight subterranean), 1,100 rooms, and a total area of 330,000 m2. 

The Guinness Book of Records ranks it second in the “Administrative Buildings” category after the Pentagon.

  • The name “House of the Republic” was given to it at first.

The structure was initially known as the “House of the Republic,” but after the Romanian Revolution, it was renamed the People’s House (Casa Poporului). 

When it became the Senate and Chamber of Deputies’ headquarters, it was called the Palace of Parliament.

  • Tunnels of Mystery

The three presenters of the famed TV show Top Gear drove their automobiles through the tunnels lying beneath the Palace of Parliament. 

Nicolae Ceausescu created these so that he could get from the building to the underground airport during a revolution. He was cautious, but this did not help him much when the Romanian Revolution began.

The Palace of Parliament Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about The Palace of Parliament across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about The Palace of Parliament. The Palace of the Parliament was built between 1984 and 1997, and its colossal dimensions dominate the cityscape. 

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. The Palace of Parliament Facts
  2. Fact Check
  3. Arrange and Engage
  4. Massive Structures
  5. Architectural Features
  6. Romanian Dictator
  7. The Parliament
  8. The Ceaușescus  
  9. Virtual Tour
  10. End of the Regime
  11. People’s House

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Palace of the Parliament, and why is it significant?

The Palace of the Parliament, also known as the People’s House (Casa Poporului), is a massive government building in Bucharest, Romania. It is the heaviest building in the world and one of the largest administrative buildings globally. The significance lies in its historical and architectural importance as well as its association with the country’s communist past.

Who commissioned the construction of the Palace of the Parliament?

The Palace of the Parliament was commissioned by Nicolae Ceaușescu, the former General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party, as a symbol of his regime’s power and grandeur. Construction began in 1984 during the period of Communist rule.

How large is the Palace of the Parliament?

The Palace of the Parliament is immense, covering an area of about 365,000 square meters (3,930,000 square feet). It has 1,100 rooms and is 84 meters (276 feet) high. The construction required a vast amount of materials, including 1 million cubic meters of marble and 3,500 metric tons of crystal for its chandeliers.

Can visitors tour the Palace of the Parliament?

Yes, visitors can tour parts of the Palace of the Parliament. Guided tours take visitors through some of the opulent rooms, halls, and chambers. The tour provides insight into the building’s history, construction, and its current use. It’s advisable to check in advance for tour availability and any restrictions.

How is the Palace of the Parliament used today?

Today, the Palace of the Parliament serves as the seat of the Parliament of Romania. It houses both chambers of the Romanian Parliament and various government offices. Additionally, parts of the palace are used for cultural events, conferences, and international summits. The building has become an iconic symbol of Bucharest and Romania’s complex history.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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