Population: 43,789

The city is located in the area of mid-Pohronie in the delta of rivers of Hron and Slatina.

Zvolen is one of the oldest cities of Slovakia but it has been granted the city rights only in 1326. Currently, Zvolen is an administrative and social centre of the region and at the same time a centre of wood processing, machine, food processing and construction industries.

The city is also a significant hub of road and railway transportation with an international airport Sliač in its proximity. The most significant monument that is located directly over the city’s Main Square is the Zvolen castle, which was built as a gothic Italian-type hunting castle between 1370 – 1382 for Hungarian king Ludwig I of the Anjou House. Later a stronghold was built around the castle to protect it from the Turkish rides. The castle, which currently serves as the home of the Slovak national Gallery, has been rebuilt several times and only the part of it has retained its Gothic character.