Bratislava

Bratislava (IPA: /ˈbratjɪslava/) is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of some 450,000, the country's largest city; the population of the entire metropolitan area (Bratislava Region) is around 600,000. Bratislava is located in the south west of Slovakia, lies on both banks of the Danube, and it is the only national capital in the world that borders two other countries - Austria and Hungary.

Bratislava is the political, cultural and economic centre of Slovakia. It is the seat of the Slovak presidency, the parliament and government, as well as home to several universities, museums, theatres, galleries and other important economic, cultural and educational institutions. Many of Slovakia's large businesses and financial institutions are headquartered in Bratislava.

The city's history has been strongly influenced by various peoples, including Austrians, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, and Slovaks. The city, called Pressburg until 1919, was a key economic and administrative centre of the Kingdom of Hungary and later of the Habsburg Monarchy. Bratislava was home to the Slovak national movement in the 19th century and many other Slovak historical figures, including Milan Rastislav Štefánik and Alexander Dubček.