Which neoclassical building in Vienna houses the Austrian Parliament?

The neoclassical building in Vienna that houses the Austrian Parliament is the Austrian Parliament Building. Located on the Ringstraße, it is the meeting place of Austria’s two legislative chambers: the National Council and the Federal Council.

The building was designed by Theophil Hansen in a Greek Revival interpretation of neoclassicism. Construction began in 1874, and the building was completed in 1883 for the Imperial Council of the Austrian half of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Hansen designed not only the structure but also much of its interior decoration, creating a unified classical setting inspired by ancient Greek architecture and democratic ideals.

A famous feature is the Pallas Athena fountain in front of the entrance, completed between 1898 and 1902. The building suffered severe damage during World War II, although much of its exterior and historically important interior spaces were restored. It is sometimes confused with the nearby Hofburg, which was the imperial palace, or with Vienna’s other monumental Ringstraße buildings. After a major renovation, the Parliament Building reopened in 2023.