Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and the country's largest city. Bratislava is in the southwest part of Slovakia and lies on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two other countries.
Bratislava is the political, cultural and economic center of Slovakia. It is the seat of the Slovak presidency, the parliament and the government, and is home to several universities, museums, theatres, galleries and other important economic, cultural and educational institutions. The headquarters of many of Slovakia's large businesses and financial institutions are in Bratislava.
The history of the city, long known by the German name Pressburg, has been strongly influenced by various peoples, including Austrians, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Jews and Slovaks. The city was a key economic and administrative center of the Kingdom of Hungary and was its capital under the Habsburg monarchy from 1536 to 1783.