Paysandú (Spanish pronunciation: [pajsanˈdu]) is the capital and most populous city of the Paysandú Department in western Uruguay. Located on the banks of the Uruguay River, it is the country's fourth-largest city and a vital cultural and economic hub, with agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing serving as key industries.
Located in the southwestern part of the department, across from the Argentine city of Colón in Entre Ríos Province, it was founded in the mid-18th century and is known as the La Heroica (Spanish for 'The Heroic City') for its rich history, particularly its resistance during the Siege of Paysandú in 1864-65.