According to archeological data Chernovtsy was founded in the second half of the 12th century. First documentary reference to Chernovtsy dates from 1408. It was a town in the Polish-Lithuanian kingdom and the chief center of the area known as the Bukovina.

In the middle of the 13th century Chernovtsy was conquered by Moldavian princedom. In the 30s of the 16th century, Chernovtsy town passed first to the Turks, and in 1774 to Austria.

Administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast (province) in southwestern Ukraine. Together with the city of Lviv, Chernivtsi is viewed at present to be a cultural centers of western Ukraine. The city is also considered one of modern Ukraine's greatest cultural and educational centers. Historically, as a cultural and architectural center, Chernivtsi was even dubbed Little Vienna, Jerusalem upon the Prut, or the European Alexandria. Chernivtsi is currently twinned with seven other cities around the world. The city is also a major point of railway and highway crossings in the region, and houses an international airport.

Chernovtsy city is an important cultural center of Ukraine. There is University and Doctors' Training Institute in Chernovtsy as well as scientific research institutions - the Institute of social and economic problems of foreign countries and others.

Famous Ukrainian writer and essayist Ivan Franko graduated the local University in 1891. It is Chernovtsy where famous Soviet singers Dmytro Gnatyuk and Sofia Rotaru started their careers.

Among the architectural sights of the city is a wooden Church of Saint Nicholas (1607), Church of Ascension (17th century), Spiridonievskaya Church (1773), Church of Assumption (1783), Church of Christmas (1767).