Every year one of the most beautiful old Belarusian cities, Zaslawye, is visited by tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world. They are attracted by Zaslawye Castle, Mayak Mount, the Orthodox Cathedral of the Lord's Transfiguration of all the Guards, the Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and, of course, the old settlement of Zamechek – the remains of the fortified settlement of legendary Princess Rogneda, a wife of great Prince Vladimir and a mother of Prince Izyaslav (Zaslawye was named after him).

The marriage of the Prince of Kiev (Kyiv) and a beautiful daughter of the Prince of Polotsk was a mutually beneficial union for both parties, but, just like other marriages of that time, it was not based on love and harmony. So, soon after the birth of his son, the prince exiled his rebellious wife with his heir to another city, which he founded and named after his son – Izyaslavl. This is what the modern Zaslawye was called at that time.

The top of its hill, which rose above the marshy area near the Chernitsa River, housed a ring rampart, reinforced with a log defensive wall with a palisade and guard platforms. This layout of the small fortress settlement allowed archers to conduct a circular bombardment and protect the settlement from enemies. There was only one way to get inside – through the gates of a round-the-clock guarded tower. On its inner territory, there were several residential buildings, and all the needs of its residents were satisfied by a trade and craft posad settled nearby. The settlement was called Zamechek, which means «small castle» in Belarusian. The ancient settlement served as a defensive fortress until the end of the 11th century. Then the center of Izyaslavl was moved to the shore of the Svisloch River, and locals abandoned the old fortress.

Today, only a memorial cross at the center of the glade and a legend about obstinate Princess Rogneda have remained from the former greatness of Zamechek. Rogneda’s grave is still an aim of archeologists and seekers of the princely family treasuries.