Zaslawye

Zaslawye / Zaslaul
Заслаўе / Заславль
Zaslawye / Zaslaul; Заслаўе / Заславль
	Church of the Saviour's Transfiguration is 35 meters (115 ft) high
	; Coat of arms
	; Coat of arms
	Zaslawye / Zaslaul; Заслаўе / Заславль Location of Zaslawye
	Coordinates: 54°00′30″N 27°17′05″E / 54.00833°N 27.28472°E
Country; Voblast; Raion	Belarus; Minsk Voblast; Minsk Raion
Founded	985
	Area
• Total	14.2 km2 (5.5 sq mi)
Elevation	211 m (692 ft)
	Population (2009)
• Total	14,400
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
License plate	5

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Zaslawye or Zaslaul (Belarusian: Засла́ўе, Заслаўль, [zaˈsɫau̯je]; Russian: Заславль; Polish: Zasław) is a historic town in Minsk Province of Belarus, 20 kilometres northwest of Minsk. As of 2009 its population was of 14,400.^[1]

[edit] History

According to chronicles, Zaslawye was 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.

During the period of Reformation, the town was a nest for followers of Calvinism and Socinianism.

[edit] Geography

Situated in north-western suburb of Minsk, is part of its urban area and one of its main towns also with Fanipol and Machulishi. Considering that the Belarusian capital, seat of Minsk Raion, is administratively separated from it, Zaslawye is the most populated settlement of the proper raion.

[edit] Sites

All historical attractions of Zaslaul are situated in the downtown not far from the Belarus Railway Station. The most interesting of them are the Zamechek (Castle) archaeological site of the Zaslaul town of the 10 – 12th centuries, the Val Site that includes town ramparts and the fortified Savior Transfiguration Church (primary Calvinist church which was built from 1577 onward and is still in fair preservation), the Phara St Mary Church of the 18th century, a small skansen of a traditional wooden tavern, smithy, storehouse and steam mill.