Stolin - Belarus

Stolin (Belarusian: Сто́лін; Russian: Сто́лин; Polish: Stolin) is a town in the Brest Voblast of Belarus. Nowadays, Stolin is the center of the largest district in Brest voblast. The population of Stolin is 12,500 people (2002). The Belarusian-Ukrainian border is about 15 km away, so Stolin is now a border city that hosts many Ukrainians on the market days. Russian speech is common here, but villagers prefer their dialects that are numerous and akin partly to the Belarusian language, partly the Ukrainian language.



History
Stolin grew up at the heart of the Polesia region on the river Haryn, at the crossroads of two important routes, one leading northwards to Pinsk, two others eastwards to Davyd-Haradok and Turaŭ, that are now in Belarus, southwards to Sarny and Kiev, that are now in Ukraine.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the area which Stolin now occupies, was settled as far back as the 12th century AD. The first mention of Stolin dates to 1555. There are three stories regarding the origins of the name "Stolin". The first refers to a group of local fisherman who cast their fishing nets into a lake a pulled out 100 fish or Sto [100 in Russian] "Leeni" [a type of local fish]. The second story refers to a ferry-boat which sunk in the river and required 100 men with 100 ropes to drag it out [100 lines in Russian]. The third refers to twelve brothers who ruled over seven nearby cities and chose what became Stolin as their meeting place and capital city [a derivation of Stolichniy Gorod in Russian].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StolinIn

Stolin is a town, 250 km east of Brest, Belarus. It is the administrative center of 1 of the 16 districts in Brest Region. Its population is 12,500.

Stolin grew up at the heart of the Polesie region on the Goryn (Haryn) River, at the crossroads of two important routes, one leading northwards to Pinsk, the second eastwards to Davyd-Gorodok and Turov, that are now in Belarus, the third southwards to Sarny and Kiev, that are now in the Ukraine.

The Belarusian-Ukrainian border is about 15 km away, thus Stolin is now a border town that hosts many Ukrainians on the market days. Russian speech is common here, but villagers prefer their numerous dialects that are akin partly to Byelorussian, partly the Ukrainian language.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the area which Stolin now occupies, was settled as far back as the 12th century AD. The first record about Stolin dates to 1555. It was a thriving trading center on the Goryn River. It was protected by a castle that did not survive. It was on the riverbank on the territory of today's park in the town center.

There are several legends regarding the origin of the name "Stolin". One legend says that a group of fishermen once cast their fishing nets into the river and pulled out the nets with 100 tenches (a freshwater fish). To mark the wonderful place they called it Stolin, putting togeather 2 words: "sto" (100 in Byelorussian) and "lin" (tench in Russian). Another legend refers to a ferry which sunk in the river. 100 men had to drag it out, using 100 ropes. Again 2 words could have originated the name: "sto" (100 in Byelorussian) and "lina" (rope in Byelorussian). The most probable legend narrates about twelve brothers who once ruled the area and used to meet here to discuss their affairs at table, hence "Stolin" that derived from the word "stol" (table in Byelorussian).

Today's central Square is close the place of the former market on the river bank. Here 3 roads meet: Goryn St. leading to the railway station Goryn (5 km to the west), Pinsk St. leading to Pinsk (80 km to the north), Sovietskaya St. leading to Davyd Gorodok (40 km to the east).

There are two parks in Stolin. One in the central part, the other on its eastern outskirts is theoldes, it was laid out by the Radziwill family in 1885. It was one of their summer residences.

The road to the railway station in Goryn and Pinsk St, were paved with hexagonal massive flagstones that remained intact after 2 devastating wars.

The town lies on the Goryn River at the confluence of the tiny Kopanets River, that is rather a creek. Originally the creek was the old bed of the Goryn River. In the course of centuries it shifted 2 km southwards.
The town occupies 11.2 sq. km.

region.brest-belarus.org/stolin/stol.htm