Brazzaville

Capital, river port, and largest city of the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), on the west bank of the Congo River, opposite Kinshasa; population (2002 est) 1,133,800. It is the leading commercial centre of the Republic and industries include foundries, railway repairs, shipbuilding, beverages, textiles, food processing, shoes, soap, furniture, and bricks. Tourism is important, with arts and crafts markets in the Plateau district of the city.

Brazzaville was founded in 1884 by the French explorer Count Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza (1852–1905). From 1882 to 1960 it was under French rule. It was the African headquarters of the Free (later Fighting) French during World War II. It is an important transhipment point between river transport and the railway to Pointe-Noire on the Atlantic coast. The city has a cathedral (1892) and the Pasteur Institute (founded in 1908) is located here. Marien-Ngouabi University dates from 1961.