Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic and seat of the President, goverment, legislature and other central authorities. The economic, social and cultural hub of Slovakia and home to numerous institutes of leading research and higher education, scientific and cultural organisations.

Bratislava, named after the Slavic prince Braslav, has a rich history. Its castle was built in the early 10th century as a princely Greatmoravian castle. From the 13th century bratislava is a treasury of priceless art and cultural monuments. King Mathias Corvinus found the first univerzity, the Academia Istropolitana, in the 15th century. In the 16th century Bratislava became the corronation seat for 250 years and the capital of Hungary for 300 years.

Bratislava was also one of the centres of the national awarness forming of the Slovaks. It was here where the fist Slovak newspaper was printed.

From 1919 when Bratislava became the main centre of Slovakia it has grown bigger fast.

Each era changed the city but it was changed most in the last 50 years. According to statistics Bratislava had a population of 93 thousand in 1921 and 140 thousand in 1945.

Nowadays Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, the seat of the President, of the Presidium, of the Parlament and other central authorities and offices. It is a significant social and cultural centre of Slovakia. With over 500 thousand inhabitants Bratislava becomes a modern european metropolis.

The location of Bratislava predestines it to be a significant international trade and social centre. It lies where the Slovak Republic borders Austria and Hungary. It's 2 km far from the Austrian and 13 km from the Hungarian border. The border to the Czech Republic is about 70 km from Bratislava. This location (60 km from Wienna, 200 km from Budapest and 390 km from Prague) made Bratislava to the middleage crossing of roads from North to South (from Scandinavia to the Balkan countries) and from West to East (to Ukraine and Russia). The river road connects it with the Black sea in the Southeast and the Baltic sea in the North.