Voronezh was founded in 1586 as a fortress to protect the Russian state in the south from raids by the Crimean Tatars. The defensive walls were built on the right bank of the Voronezh River, after which the city was named. The fortress was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times during the fighting until Voronezh lost its military significance after the construction of fortifications in the nearby city of Belgorod.

Thus, the city transformed in the 17th century into a significant trade and craft centre. During this time, active construction took place, with churches and monasteries as well as residential and administrative buildings being erected. Moreover, a new era in the history of the city and all of Russia began: right here in Voronezh, Peter I ordered the establishment of a shipyard on the river for building ships intended for battles in the Sea of Azov. This laid the foundation for the country's navy, and Voronezh received the unofficial noscript of "Cradle of the Russian Navy."

In total, the Voronezh shipyards produced about 200 warships during the existence of the Azov Fleet. However, after the failed Pruth campaign against the Turkish troops in 1711 and the loss of access to the sea, the construction of warships in Voronezh was halted. Nevertheless, this chapter of history spurred the economic and cultural development of the entire region, and the experiences gained in building powerful ships later helped in the formation of the fleet in the Baltic and Black Seas.

The 18th century became a period of growth for Voronezh. After a large-scale fire that destroyed the wooden buildings, Catherine II ordered the city to be restored according to a regular plan. During this time, the first educational institution was established – a theological seminary, and agriculture as well as the cloth industry developed: the city supplied a quarter of all the cloth produced in Russia.

On the threshold of the 19th and 20th centuries, Voronezh became an important industrial centre. A railway was opened here, foundries and machine engineering companies emerged, and along with them, the left bank of the river was developed, where the first factories appeared. The city's potential was fully realised during World War II, with the aircraft factory that supplied dive bombers and the excavator factory named after the Comintern, which produced the "Katyusha," playing a special role.

Voronezh is one of the Russian cities most affected during World War II. The right bank of the city was occupied by German troops in July 1942, and liberation only succeeded six months later. During the long period of fierce fighting, about 90% of the residential buildings were destroyed, but by 1950, the city was restored while maintaining the historical appearance of the buildings. For its courage and bravery during the war, Voronezh was awarded the noscript "City of Military Glory."

Today, Voronezh is the largest city in the Central Black Earth region and its capital, an industrial and agricultural centre where dozens of companies from various sectors operate. Furthermore, Voronezh is one of the important cities on the cultural and scientific map of the country. Large-scale events take place here, including the International Platonov Art Festival, and there are numerous universities that become the alma mater for young people from the surrounding regions and all over Russia, which is why Voronezh is referred to as a student city.