Zaslavl

Zaslavl, known in Belarusian as Заслаў (also Заслаўль in Russian), is a town in Minsk Region, Belarus. It lies on the Svislach River, about 12 kilometers north of Minsk, and is part of Minsk District within the Minsk metropolitan area. The town has a mixed residential and light-industrial economy, with a population of around 9,000 residents.

The site has medieval origins, with a fortress and settlement along the Svislach River. It was part of the Principality of Polotsk, later belonging to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and then the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was incorporated into the Russian Empire, and after 1917 became part of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. During World War II, Zaslavl was occupied by German forces from 1941 to 1944 and suffered damage; the postwar period saw reconstruction and growth.

Notable features include the ruins of the medieval fortress on the Svislach and several historic churches. A local museum documents regional history and the fortress’s past.

Today Zaslavl serves as a commuter town for Minsk, maintaining light industry and services; its proximity to the capital links it to the broader regional economy and transportation networks.