Myadel. Castle Island on Lake Myastro.

Among the blue mirrors of Belarus, there are places where time flows differently. One of these gems is a tiny island with the famous name Castle, located in the waters of Lake Myastro, within the modern city of Myadel. Today it is a picturesque piece of land, overgrown with trees, where you can go by boat to have a picnic. But few people know that under a layer of earth and moss, ruins of centuries-old history are hidden here, and the air still preserves the memory of grand dukes and gloomy epidemics.

A strategic outpost on the border of civilizations.

The history of Castle Island goes back centuries - to the XI century. At a time when trade routes passed along the shores of local lakes and pagan tribes were in full swing, it was this island, naturally protected by water, that was chosen for the construction of a powerful fortification. Imagine: a high wooden palisade, watchtowers with an ideal view of the whole area, and narrow boats mooring to the shore.

The geographical location made this city an important outpost on the north-western borders. In the 14th century, when the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was waging a fierce struggle against the Crusaders, the wooden walls were replaced with stone ones. Archaeologists are still finding remains of masonry made of large boulders and brick plinths here. Castle Island was not just a residential town, but a formidable fortress that withstood the onslaught of enemies. He was part of the defense system of the so-called "Myadel Castle", controlling the waterway from the Western Dvina to the Neman.

Queen Bona and the golden carriage.

There is a beautiful legend associated with this place. Legend has it that in the 16th century, Queen Bona Sforza herself stayed on the island - the wife of Sigismund I, known for her energy, economy and Italian temperament. Allegedly, she loved these places very much and often came here to relax from the hustle and bustle of the capital.

According to legend, when the queen was leaving the castle, her carriage loaded with gold fell through the ice of Lake Miastro. It happened either during the winter crossing, or during a surprise attack. To this day, old-timers say that the sunken gold of Bona lies at the bottom of the lake somewhere near the island. Many treasure hunters tried to find it, but the muddy bottom and dark water reliably keep the secret of the Italian queen. Although historians are skeptical about this story, it gives the island a special romantic aura.

Ghost Town: Plague and Oblivion.

In the 15th century, life on the island came to an abrupt end. The inhabitants left their homes, and the fortress was deserted. Scientists suggest that the cause of the exodus was a terrible epidemic - perhaps the plague or cholera, which mowed down the cities of medieval Europe. The castle became a mass grave, a place that people avoided in fear.

Since then, the island has not been inhabited anymore. The stone was dismantled by the locals for their needs, the wooden buildings rotted away, and nature gradually took its toll. Castle Island has turned into a quiet memorial, standing almost in the center of Lake Myadel. Today it resembles a frozen ship: its outlines still preserve the regular geometric shapes of the ancient settlement, and in the thickets you can see barely noticeable hills - the remains of defensive ramparts.

How to see the legend today.

The only way to get to the island is by water. Locals willingly show the way to tourists. It's nice to spend an hour or two here: listen to the birds singing, imagine the armor of the guards rattling under your feet, and peer into the depths of the lake in the hope of seeing a glint of royal gold.

Castle Island is a place where history stops being just a boring line in a textbook and turns into a tangible mystery hidden by water and time.