English summary: They were the scenes of far-reaching historical events and are places of future-minded decision-making — Protestant synod halls. Their appearance varies and is often characterised by local styles, but they have one thing in common: their architecture expresses the equality found within the Protestant church. The synod buildings presented in Italy, Scotland, Hungary, Ireland and Germany were predominantly built in the 19th and early 20th centuries, at a time when democratic processes were being initiated in large parts of Europe. The illustrated book also makes architectural similarities between parliament and synod buildings visible. In addition, the book provides information on the history of Protestant synods and their current challenges. German description: Die vorgestellten Synodengebaude in Schottland, Irland, Ungarn, Italien und Deutschland sind uberwiegend im 19. und zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts entstanden, zu einem Zeitpunkt, als demokratische Prozesse in weiten Teilen Europas eingeleitet wurden. Der Bildband behandelt auch die Frage, inwieweit die Architektur von Parlamentsgebauden und von Synodensalen einander beeinflusst haben. Zusatzlich informiert das Buch uber die Geschichte evangelischer Synoden und deren gegenwartige Herausforderungen.