The capital city of Sumy oblast.
Sumy is a city and administrative center of Sumy oblast, northeastern Ukraine, on the Psyol River. Sumy is a highway and railway junction of the region. There is an airport in the city.
Sumy city population is about 270,000 (2010).
The phone code is +380 542; the postal codes are 40000-40030.
In 2nd-6th centuries A.D. Slavic tribes lived in the area of present Sumy, remnants of their settlements and burial mounds are found in the south-western part of the city, on Pavlov street. In 8th-10th centuries there was a settlement of northern people in the area of Topol settlement (now Topolyanskaya street in Sumy city).
There is no common opinion on the foundation date of Sumy. 1653 and 1655 are considered possible dates. 1655 is considered the most exact. It is thought that the town was inhabited by several waves of migrants arriving from the opposite bank of the Danube, but the town was founded by colonel Gerasim Kondratyev who arrived to the Russian state together with a group of Cossack migrants in 1655. Moscow allowed them to settle there and during 1656-1658 they constructed a fortress there headed by Russian voivode K.Yu.Arsenyev.
Sumy was constructed in an oak forest, walls of the fortress were built of oak, under the fortress there was an underground way to water, a rampart and a deep moat were formed around the fortress. The fortifications were supplemented by natural ones: the rivers Psyol, Suma and Sumka surrounded the town.
Ukrainian peasants who were ruled by Rzeczpospolita at that time began migrating to southern steppes in mid 16th century. Ukrainians migration process lasted till mid 18th century. The political situation in the second half of 17th century caused the town foundation.
In 1651 Ukrainian Cossacks headed by Bogdan Khmelnitsky were defeated near Berestechka and it was the start of the Polish yoke over Ukrainian population. In 1658 Sumy became the center of Slobodsky Cossack regiment which defended southern boundaries of Russia from the Crimean Tatars’ attacks. There were 2,740 people (1660 est.) in the town.
It was attacked by Crimean Tatars in 1659, 1663, 1668. In spite if a siege the Tatars failed to occupy the town. Sumy fortress served as a ground where Russian army gathered during expeditions to the Crimea in 1687 and 1689.
During the Northern war of 1700-1721 the town played an important strategic part. On December 26th, 1708, Peter I transferred his headquarters from Lebedin to Sumy. Peter I spent the whole winter there and headed the fortress reinforcing (in case of a defeat in battle with Swedish army of Karl XII), he issued a manifest to Ukrainian people denouncing hetman Mazepa’s actions.
There were 7,700 people in Sumy in 1732, 9,380 in 1773 and 10,256 in 1850. In 1780 Sumy received the status of a town. In 18th-19th centuries Sumy city was major commercial center of the region. Soviet power was established in Sumy in 1918.
Main industries of Sumy are machine building, metal processing, food and chemical industries. Present day city industries produce machinery for the chemical industry, electron microscopes, pumps, and fertilizers and other chemicals. Light industries of Sumy include sugar refining and other food processing and the production of clothing, footwear and furniture.
Sumy city scenery
Sumy city view
Sumy view
Sumy received its name after the rivers Suma and Sumka which washed the city from 2 sides. There is a legend that hunters’ bags (“suma” in Russian) were found in the area. This fact is reflected in the city coat-of-arms adopted in 1781: in it there are 3 black bags with golden buttons on the four-angle shield.
A teacher-training institute is located in Sumy. Famous Russian writers A.P.Chekhov and A.I.Kuprin lived in the city. Sumy was visited by composer P.I.Chaikovsky, writer V.G.Korolenko, poet A.N.Pletsheyev.
Holy Resurrection Cathedral. The cathedral is the oldest stone building in the city. It was built at the expense of Colonel A. Kondratyev, the son of the founder of Sumy. The building of the cathedral was part of a system of city walls; there was an underground passage to the river. In Soviet times the building housed the Department of arts and crafts of Sumy art museum. Address: Sumy, Voskresenskaya Str., 19.
Transfiguration Cathedral. This majestic church standing on a pedestrian street in the heart of the city combines the elements of Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism. Address: Sumy, Sobornaya Str., 31.
Trinity Cathedral. It is one of the most beautiful churches of Sumy looking like St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg. The cathedral was built in classical style with Baroque elements. Address: Sumy, Troitskaya Str., 24-a.
Sobornaya (Cathedral) street
Sumy stadium
Sumy World War II memorial
Museum of Chekhov. House-Museum of Chekhov is open in the noble mansion of the family of Lintvarevyh (18th-19th centuries). In 1888-1889 years the writer lived in the western wing of the mansion. The museum was opened to the centenary of the birth of the writer in 1960. You can see restored interior of the living room and dining room, guest rooms and “Antosha room” - Chekhov’s bedroom and study. Address: Sumy, Chekhov Str., 79. Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 (Thursday - 16:00), day off - Friday.
Museum of Art. Sumy Regional Art Museum named after N. Onatsky is housed in a building constructed in the early 20th century. The museum was founded in 1920 on the basis of nationalized private collections of art. Address: Sumy, Krasnaya Square, 1. Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (Thursday - 16:00), day off - Friday.
Local History Museum. The exhibition presents objects from the archaeological sites of early Slavic monuments, rare exhibits on the history and nature of the Sumy region. Address: Sumy, Kirov Str., 2. Opening hours: 9:00-17:00, day off - Monday.
Altanka. A small carved wooden gazebo built without a single nail is considered to be the symbol of the city. This is the only wooden building in the city, which was not damaged during the Second World War. Address: Sumy, Pokrovskaya Square.
Children’s Park “Fairy Tale”. The park is located in the central part of the city. In its territory, in addition to children’s rides you can find fabulous buildings and figures of the characters of fairy tales. Address: Sumy, Shevchenko Ave.
Kozhedub’s Park. The park of culture and rest named after I. Kozhedub (58 hectares) is located right in the heart of Sumy. The park has a lot of rides, regularly hosts various exhibitions, festivals and other cultural events. Near the main entrance to the park a modern stadium “Yubileyniy” is located. In the southeastern part of the park there is the city beach. Address: Sumy, Gagarin Str., 15.
Among the other attractions are:
Sumy tank T-34 monument
Altanka - symbol of Sumy
Holy Resurrection Cathedral
Transfiguration Cathedral
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