P383 - Slovakia - Bratislava's Old Town

Bratislava's Old Town, Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic and, with a population of about 429,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries, and it and Vienna are the two European national capitals closest to one another, at less than 60 kilometres (37 mi) apart.

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

The history of the city, long known by the German name Pressburg, has been strongly influenced by people of different nations, namely by Austrians, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, and Slovaks. The city was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary under the Habsburg Monarchy from 1536 to 1783 and has been home to many Slovak, Hungarian, and German historical figures.

布拉迪斯拉发（斯洛伐克语：Bratislava）是斯洛伐克共和国的首都和最大城市，面积约367平方公里，人口为427,000人 。布拉迪斯拉发位于斯洛伐克西南部，多瑙河畔，紧邻奥地利和匈牙利两国边境，是世界上惟一一个与两个国家接壤的首都。布拉迪斯拉距离维也纳不到60公里，搭电气火车前往维也纳，只需一小时左右，是欧洲距离最近的2个首都。

布拉迪斯拉发是斯洛伐克共和国的政治、经济与文化的中心，是该国总统府、国会和政府的所在地，也是文化中心，拥有数座大学、博物馆、歌剧院、美术馆以及其他重要的文化与教育机构。斯洛伐克许多大型商业与金融机构的总部也设在布拉迪斯拉发。

该市在历史上曾经长期使用德语名称普莱斯堡（Pressburg），而且曾经受到日耳曼、捷克、匈牙利、犹太和斯洛伐克等各种民族的强烈影响。从1536年到1783年，该市是哈布斯堡王朝统治下匈牙利王国的首都。布拉迪斯拉发拥有许多斯洛伐克人、匈牙利人和德意志的历史人物，19世纪的斯洛伐克民族运动也以此为基地。

References sources : wikipedia