saxony

Saxony, officially the Free State of Saxony, is a state in eastern Germany. It borders Poland to the east and the Czech Republic to the south, and is bordered by the German states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Bavaria. The capital is Dresden, while Leipzig is the largest city by population. The state has about 4 million residents. Saxony takes its name from the historic Electorate and Kingdom of Saxony, which governed the region before German unification.

It lies along the Elbe River, with the Elbe valley serving as a major corridor. The Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) form the southwestern border with the Czech Republic, while the Lusatian Mountains lie northeast near Poland. The Lusatia region is home to the Sorbs, a recognized minority with bilingual provisions.

Historically part of the Holy Roman Empire, Saxony was an influential electorate and later kingdom. After 20th-century upheavals it became part of East Germany until reunification in 1990, when it was reconstituted as the Free State of Saxony within the Federal Republic of Germany.

Economically, Saxony is known for manufacturing, engineering, and high-tech industries, including automotive and electronics. It hosts major research institutions and universities, notably Technische Universität Dresden and the University of Leipzig. Culturally, the state preserves Baroque Dresden architecture and a vibrant musical heritage in Leipzig.

The population is aging and urbanized. The political system is a constitutional republic with a Minister-President and a unicameral Landtag. The region is home to the Sorbian minority in Lusatia, with bilingual policies in parts of the region.