Slovak Parliament Buildings, Premises and Works of Art

National Council of the Slovak Republic exteriors and interiors

Parliament building, overviewThe Slovak Parliament

Old and New Building of the Slovak Parliament

In the first one and a half years after the birth of the Slovak Republic in 1993 the National Council was seated in the Zhupa house on Župné square in the centre of Bratislava. Temporary arrangements in the Zhupa house, which was the seat for Slovak Parliaments from the year 1939, ended by moving the National Council to the current building on Dubček square, on the Castle Hill in 1994.

Zhupa house in BratislavaThe Slovak Parliament

Zhupa house, seat of National Council of the Slovak Republic till 1994, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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In the Zhupa house, MPs adopted the Constitution of the Slovak Republic in September 1992.

Hall of Constitution in Zhupa houseThe Slovak Parliament

To commemorate the adoption of the basic Act, Plenary hall in Zhupa house was named as the Hall of Constitution.

Ceremonial plenary sessions of the legislature are held in this hall to celebrate particularly important milestones in Slovak history.

Speaker´s tract in Zhupa house lounge, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Thanks to the representativeness, the premises of Zhupa house actually serve as a venue for special events and festivities of the NC SR and other associated institutions, as well as a conference center.

Zhupa house, foyerThe Slovak Parliament

Zhupa house, atriumThe Slovak Parliament

Building of the National Council of the Slovak Republic (1986/1994) by Ľudovít Jendreják, Peter Puškár, Ján Šilinger (architects), Matúš Zajac (photo)The Slovak Parliament

Actual Seat of the Slovak Parliament

The construction of the new Parliament building began in June 1986 according to the project of Ľudovít Jendreják, Peter Puškár and Ján Šilinger. After 1989, a further use of the building under construction was debated. Eventually, it was decided to retain the originally intended purpose of the building. The architectural project originally envisaged a reign of one political party only, thus had to change during construction.

Front of the Parliament buildingThe Slovak Parliament

Members of the Parliament were officially handed over to use their first flagship building on 25 May 1994.

Alexander Dubček square, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Entrance hallThe Slovak Parliament

Main building of the National Council; interiors.

Hurban´s volunteers – Guard of honor in vestibule (Hurban´s hall) of today´s Parliament buildingThe Slovak Parliament

Hurban´s hall, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Reference library beside main staircase, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Main staircase to Plenary hall, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Main, ceremonial staircase with lustre, Askold Žáčko, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Hall in front of Plenary hall, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Collection of seven images painted on walnut woods by Albín BrunovskýThe Slovak Parliament

Panorama view on Parliament building and Bratislava Castle by Pavol Urbánek (photo)The Slovak Parliament

Slovak Parliament and the Bratislava Castle

The current Parliament building was built just nearby the Bratislava Castle. Capacitively, the building still does not fully meet the actual needs, therefore Slovak Parliament uses also the premises in the Zhupa house, in the Bratislava Castle and in its area (bastions, ramparts, walls). The Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2016 was preceded by the radical reconstruction of the Bratislava Castle as a venue of many significant events.

View of Bratislava from SNP bridgeThe Slovak Parliament

Old visage of Bratislava Castle at the end of the 20th century.

Panorama view on Parliament building with Bratislava CastleThe Slovak Parliament

In first 15 years of the 21th century, Bratislava Castle and its area were rebuilt in baroque style according to the times of famous Habsburg emperor Maria Theresia, Queen of Hungary.

Bratislava Castle, courtyard with Svätopluk statueThe Slovak Parliament

Castle wall with other Parliament officesThe Slovak Parliament

Bratislava Castle, northern side with radically renewed area, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Bratislava Castle with conference house Hippodrome and baroque gardenThe Slovak Parliament

Baroque garden, Castle wall with other Parliament officesThe Slovak Parliament

Castle interior, Great ChamberThe Slovak Parliament

The southern representation wing of the Castle consists of the Reception Hall, Great Chamber, Mirror Hall, and Porcelain Cabinet.

Castle, Gerat Chamber, conference room for Slovak Presidency in EUThe Slovak Parliament

Castle, Grand Chamber, conference room with painting of Maria Theresia of Hungary and BohemiaThe Slovak Parliament

Copies of paintings of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and his wife Maria Theresia, Hungary and Bohemia, Empress Consort of the Holy Roman Empire in Hungarian coronation robes by Daniel Schmiddeli

Castle interior, Mirror HallThe Slovak Parliament

The Mirror Hall has the most spectacular gold-plated embellishments, complemented by huge mirrors with richly decorated golden frames.

Castle interior, Mirror HallThe Slovak Parliament

The Mirror Hall of the Bratislava Castle serves as a venue for the most significant protocol events.

Castle interior, Porcelain CabinetThe Slovak Parliament

Porcelain Cabinet with renaissance oriel is, from an art-historical perspective, the most valuable site in the parliamentary representative areas thanks to its unique stucco decor and its frescoes from the 16th century.

Castle, detail of interiorThe Slovak Parliament

Renaissance oriel

Castle, detail of ceilingThe Slovak Parliament

Details of the ceiling.

Castle, staircaseThe Slovak Parliament

Knights Hall, highest state awards ceremonyThe Slovak Parliament

The eastern wing of Castle contains the Knights Hall, where the Constitution of the Slovak Republic was ceremonially signed on 3 September 1992. Slovak president awards personalities with highest state awards in the beginning of every year on the occasion of establishment of the Slovak Republic, in this Hall.

Stained Glass Tribes by Askold ŽáčkoThe Slovak Parliament

Working Premises of the National Council

Besides the Plenary hall, session rooms for committees and the Speaker and Deputy-Speakers tracts, there are also several another working rooms in main building. These are places for rich Parliament activities. In the Castle area, there are MPs offices, Infocentre with exhibition hall, premises of Parliamentary institute with its analytical and educational services, and with the Parliamentary library and Parliamentary archive.

Plenary hall, overviewThe Slovak Parliament

Plenary hall with balconyThe Slovak Parliament

Central Lustre in Plenary hall by Askold ŽáčkoThe Slovak Parliament

United's board meeting room, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Modern press center, From the collection of: The Slovak Parliament
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Parliament library in Castle areaThe Slovak Parliament

Exibition hall in Castle areaThe Slovak Parliament

Credits: Story

The exhibition was prepared by the employees of Chancellery of the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

Elaborated by Natália Petranská Rolková
Collaboration Vladislav Ivančík
Photos: Matúš Zajac, Pavol Urbánek, Vladislav Ivančík, TASR

Parliamentary Institute, Chancellery of NC SR
July 2017

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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