What record is it known for?

One of the largest and heaviest buildings in the world

Is the building fully finished?

No, some spaces remain incomplete

What does it house today?

Romania's Parliament and a contemporary art museum

Palace of the Parliament Quiz: Bucharest's Colossal Building

This Palace of the Parliament quiz tours the colossal building in Romania's capital. Play an interactive set of 10 questions on Nicolae Ceaușescu's plan, building from 1984, architect Anca Petrescu, its vast size and weight, rooms and halls, the old neighborhoods demolished, Romanian materials, unfinished spaces, today's parliament and museum, and a famous 1992 balcony gaffe.

Start Palace of the Parliament Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

City
Which city has the Palace of the Parliament?
Leader
Which leader ordered it?
Start
When did construction begin?
Architect
Who was its chief architect?
Size
What record is it known for?
Cost
What was demolished to build it?
Materials
Where did most of its materials come from?
Unfinished
Is the building fully finished?
Today
What does it house today?
Gaffe
Which pop star famously mixed up cities on its balcony in 1992?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which city has the Palace of the Parliament?
Answer: Bucharest
It is Romania's capital.
Q2: Which leader ordered it?
Answer: Nicolae Ceaușescu
He ruled communist Romania.
Q3: When did construction begin?
Answer: 1984
It was meant to be the House of the People.
Q4: Who was its chief architect?
Answer: Anca Petrescu
She was young when chosen.
Q5: What record is it known for?
Answer: One of the largest and heaviest buildings in the world
It has over 1,000 rooms.
Q6: What was demolished to build it?
Answer: A large part of old Bucharest
Thousands of people were moved.
Q7: Where did most of its materials come from?
Answer: Romania
Marble and wood were local.
Q8: Is the building fully finished?
Answer: No, some spaces remain incomplete
Many rooms are unused.
Q9: What does it house today?
Answer: Romania's Parliament and a contemporary art museum
Tours show some halls.
Q10: Which pop star famously mixed up cities on its balcony in 1992?
Answer: Michael Jackson
He greeted Budapest by mistake.

Ceaușescu's Colossal House of the People

The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest was ordered by communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu, who wanted a grand House of the People. Construction began in 1984 under architect Anca Petrescu. It is one of the largest administrative buildings and one of the heaviest buildings in the world, with over 1,000 rooms.

To make space, a large part of old Bucharest was demolished, including churches and homes, and thousands of people were moved. Most materials, such as marble, wood and crystal, came from Romania. Ceaușescu was overthrown and executed in 1989 before it was finished, and some spaces remain incomplete.

Today it houses Romania's Parliament and the National Museum of Contemporary Art, and guided tours show its grand halls. In 1992 Michael Jackson famously greeted the crowd from its balcony with Hello Budapest, mixing up the city's name.

What This Quiz Teaches

History fans will enjoy these questions.

Who ordered the palace
When it was built
What was lost to build it
How big it is
What it is used for now

Did You Know?

Heating and lighting the building cost huge sums.
A huge boulevard leads to its front.
Some underground levels are rumored to hold bunkers.
Visitors need ID for tours.
Carpets in some halls weigh several tonnes.