Zaslawye

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Church of the Saviour's Transfiguration is 35 meters (115 ft) high.

Zaslawye or Zaslavl (Belarusian: Засла́ўе, IPA: [zaˈsɫau̯je]; Russian: Заславль) is a historic town in Minsk Province of Belarus, 20 kilometres northwest of Minsk.

[edit] History

Zaslawye is believed to have been founded in 985 by Vladimir the Great who sent his wife Rogneda to live here with their son Izyaslav of Polotsk, the founder of the princely house of Polatsk. The town's current name derives from Izyaslav's name.

In the early Middle Age the town was centre of the Duchy of Zaslawye. In the 11th century, the town was heavily fortified; much of its territory has been designated an archaeological reservation. There is also a modern outdoor statue of Rogneda and Izyaslav on the grounds.

[edit] Architectures

Architectural monuments of Zaslawye include the Saviour Church, which was built from 1577 onward and is still in fair preservation, and the Roman Catholic church of Mary's Nativity, a towered edifice which goes back to 1774-99.