Sumy is a regional city of Sumy Oblast with a population of 270,000.
The history of the city begins in the first half of the XVII century. In order to protect the southern borders of tsarist Russia from constant raids of Crimean Tatars on the bank of the Psel River at the confluence of the Sumka, Strelka and Popadka rivers in 1652 the construction of a fortress (wooden stockade) was started. Its first builders and defenders were Ukrainian Cossacks, fugitive peasants and burghers. An archival document dated July 25, 1655 mentions a group of Cossack settlers and their families from the place Stavishchi of Bilotserkovsky regiment headed by Colonel Gerasim Kondratyev. This year is considered the year of the foundation of Sumy, and G.Kondratyev is considered its founder. Under the leadership of the Russian voivode K.Y.Arsenyev the construction of the fortress was completed in 1658. The fortress walls were built of oak stakes, an underground passage to the water was dug under the fortress, an earthen rampart was poured around the fortress and a deep ditch was dug, which was later filled with water. In addition, the Psel, Suma and Sumka rivers, which surrounded the city from three sides, became natural defense structures. Subsequently, the fortress was repeatedly raided by enemies, but they never managed to capture it.
Within the city fortification were built dwelling houses and several stone churches, among which the oldest is considered to be the Resurrection Church (now the Holy Resurrection Cathedral).
There are several legends about the name of the town, one of which says that allegedly Cossacks of G. Kondratyev found three hunting bags full of gold in this place as a sign of Blessing for the foundation of the town. According to this legend, in 1775 the heraldmeister developed the coat of arms of the city: three black bags with bandages and gold buttons on a rectangular shield. For a long time Sumy played an important strategic role during the Crimean campaigns; here was the headquarters of Tsar Peter the Great in preparation for the battle with the Swedes at Poltava. Sumy received the status of a city in 1780. In the 90s of the XVIII century, the Sumy fortress lost its defensive functions, and the city turned into a provincial city of Sloboda Ukraine and became a major trade fair center.
Nowadays Sumy is an important industrial and cultural center of Ukraine. The products of the city’s enterprises are known in our country and abroad. The glory of the city is brought by large enterprises: «Sumy Machine-Building Scientific and Production Association named after G.V.Frunze». G.V.Frunze», JSC «Sumkhimrom», AT «Sumy Pump and Power Engineering Plant «Nasosenergomash» and others. Workers and engineering and technical personnel for these enterprises are trained by specialized secondary and higher educational institutions of Sumy. In the city operates the regional union of writers of Ukraine, work theater drama and musical comedy named after G.S.Shchepkin. G.S.Shchepkin Drama and Musical Comedy Theater, Young Spectator Theater, Philharmonic Hall, Organ Music Concert Hall and many other cultural and educational institutions.
Sumy has many monuments related to the history of the city. It is the memorial sign «Sumy» established for the 350th anniversary of the city foundation, it is the famous Sumy Altanka, which is a visiting card of the city, the attention of guests is invariably attracted by the exhibits of the house-museum of A.P. Chekhov.Chekhov; history lovers will find a lot of interesting items and memorials in the city museum of local lore; memorials «To the fallen soldiers-internationalists» and «Eternal Glory of Sumy», monuments to T.Shevchenko, M.Shchepkin, I.Kozhedub and other memorable places do not leave indifferent. The guests of the city are always very interested in the majestic ancient monuments of sacral architecture: Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Voskresenskaya Church), Spaso-Preobrazhenskij Cathedral, Ilyinskaya Church, Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Trinity Cathedral and other church temples.
The history of Sumy is inextricably linked with the names of famous cultural figures. The wandering philosopher G. Skovoroda repeatedly came here, the lawyer and public figure A.F. Koni worked here, the composer P. Tchaikovsky, the poetess Lesya Ukrainka, the writer A. Kuprin, the talented actor and director M. Schepkin and other famous personalities walked along its streets.
Sumy is one of the few cities of Ukraine, in which historical sights are organically combined with beautiful corners of wildlife, creating integral unique ensembles. Sumy residents advise their guests to start their acquaintance with the city from the central part, where its unusual name is immortalized in stone. Representatives of tourist offices will offer you a two-hour excursion and tell you in detail about the origin of the city and its memorable historical places. If you wish, you can take a three-hour historical and local history tour «The City above Psl».