Bratislava

**Bratislava** is the capital city of Slovakia. About 450,000 people live there. It used to be called Pressburg (German) or Pozsony (Hungarian) and by some other names. Bratislava is the seat of the national government, the presidency, and the parliament. It has several museums, galleries, and other educational, cultural, and economic institutions.

There is a small Old Town and a castle called Bratislavský Hrad. The Danube river goes through Bratislava. 

## Etymology 
Bratislava had many names through its history. Here are some of them:

* German: *Preßburg* (now spelled *Pressburg*)
* Slovak: *Prešporok*, from German name
* Hungarian: *Pozsony* (still used today by Hungarians)
* Greek (medieval): *Istropolis* (meaning the Danube City)
* Latin: *Posonium*
* English: *Pressburg(h)*/*Pressborough*

and many others.

## Geography 
Bratislava is in the extreme southwest of Slovakia, on the borders with Austria and Hungary, and not far from the Czech Republic border. It is on the Morava and Danube rivers.

## History 
People have lived here since the Neolithic age. The Celts inhabited this area from 400 BC-50 BC. The Roman Empire set up border military camps near Bratislava from the 1st century until the 5th century, for example,"*Gerulata*." The Slavs started moving here in the 6th century. Bratislava was part of the Slavic empire called Great Moravia in the 9th century. From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, with some exceptions. It was even the capital of the Kingdom between 1524 and 1830/1848. After the World War I ended in 1918, it was part of newly founded Czechoslovakia until 1939, when it became the capital of World War II the Slovak Republic until 1945. After 1945, it was part of Czechoslovakia again, becoming the capital of Slovak Socialist Republic (which was still part of Czechoslovakia) in 1968. After the event called Velvet Divorce, when Czechoslovakia broke up, Bratislava became the capital of Slovakia.

## Population 
### Ethnic composition 
### Religion 
## Sightseeing 
List of notable structures:

* Bratislava Castle
* St. Martin's Cathedral
* Primate's Palace
* Bratislava town hall
* Michael's Gate
* Grassalkovich Palace
* Nový Most (New Bridge)
* Kamzík TV Tower
* Devín Castle

## Economy 
The economy of Bratislava is prosperous and based on the automobile industry, chemical industry, and services. Unemployment (people without work) is the lowest in Slovakia (around 2%, compared to the national average of 7%). Approximately 250,000 people from all over Slovakia travel to Bratislava for work.

## Transport 
 in Bratislava]]
The position of Bratislava made it a natural crossroads for international traffic. It is a motorway and rail junction with its own international airport. The international river traffic passes along the Danube through Bratislava, with its own river port.

Bratislava has its own public transport system, with buses, trams and trolleybuses.

## Territorial division 
Bratislava is divided into 5 national districts and 17 city parts: 

* District I: *Staré mesto* (Old Town)
* District II: *Ružinov*, *Vrakuňa*, *Podunajské Biskupice*
* District III: *Rača*, *Nové mesto* (New Town), *Vajnory*
* District IV: *Karlova Ves*, *Dúbravka*, *Devín*, *Devínska Nová Ves*, *Záhorská
* District V: *Petržalka*, *Jarovce*, *Rusovce*, *Čunovo''

Further it is divided into 20 cadastral areas, which are identical with the city parts with 2 exceptions:

* Nové mesto = Nové mesto + Vinohrady
* Ružinov = Ružinov + Nivy + Trnávka

## Twin towns 
*  Yerevan, Armenia
*  Vienna, Austria
*  Ruse, Bulgaria
*  Larnaka, Cyprus
*  Prague, Czech Republic
*  Alexandria, Egypt
*  Turku, Finland
*  Bremen, Germany
*  Ulm, Germany
*  Thessaloniki, Greece
*  Székesfehérvár, Hungary
*  Perugia, Italy
*  Rotterdam, Netherlands
*  Kraków, Poland
*  Ljubljana, Slovenia
*  İzmir, Turkey
*  Kyiv, Ukraine
*  Cleveland, USA

## Pictures 

Image:Bratislava Panorama R01.jpg|Panorama of Bratislava
Image:Bratislava - 52119321317.jpg|Panorama of Bratislava
Image:Bratislava, Hrad, Slovensko.jpg|Bratislava Castle
Image:Bratyslawa Teatr Narodowy.jpg|Slovak National Theatre
Image:Grassalkovich Palace (2).jpg|The Grassalkovich Palace
Image:Katedrála sv. Martina 02.jpg|St. Martin's Cathedral
Image:Hviezdoslavovo námestie (10267450433).jpg|Hviezdoslav Square
Image:Pozsony - középen a régi városháza, balra a prímási palota.JPG|Primate's Square
Image:Michael's Gate and tower (10267681486).jpg|Michael's Gate
Image:Laurinc Gate-Bratislava Slovakia.JPG|Laurinc Gate
Image:Bratislava14Slovakia86.JPG|Kalvínsky kostol
Image:Church of Saint Stephen.jpg|Church of Saint Stephen
Image:Trinitarian Church of Bratislava (10267484535).jpg|Trinitarian Church
Image:Bratislava, Panská a Rybárska.jpg|Streets of the Old Town
Image:Bratislava Old Town (10267673226).jpg|Bratislava Old Town
Image:Laurinská ul..JPG|Laurinská Street

## References
## Other websites 
* 
* Bratislava City Guide prepared by locals
* ŠÚ SR - Statistical office of the Slovak Republic