The Parlament building opposite the Volksgarten strikes a governing pose over the Ringstrasse. Its neoclassical facade and Greek pillars, designed by Theophil Hansen in 1883, are striking, and the beautiful Athena Fountain , sculpted by Karl Kundmann, which guards the building, offsets it magnificently.
The visitor centre directly behind Athena is where you can find out about the history of Austrian politics and how parliament runs, from a multimedia show of video clips and interactive screens. A 55-minute guided tour , available in German or English, gives insight into the inner workings of this political powerhouse.
