Shumen Region
Shumen region is located in the central part of Northeastern Bulgaria and spreads over the Shumen Plateau, parts of Ludogorie, Provadia Plateau and eastern Stara Planina. There is a well-developed industry and agriculture in the area, including wine-making.
The history of the region began as early as the Neolithic. In the region of Shumen are found settlements, objects and artifacts from the time of the Romans and Thracians. Later the region became part of Bulgaria in 681 and the first Bulgarian state had its first capitals there – Pliska and Veliki Preslav. Other popular tourist sites are Shumen and Madara, the latter included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The region in numbers
180 000 inhabitants
4 from the 100 national tourist sites
3379 sq. km. total area
Accommodation in Shumen Region
Sites in the Shumen area
The Pliska National Historical and Architectural Reserve
Roughly 29 km from Shumen and just 2 km from present-day Pliska are the remains of Bulgaria’s first capital. Pliska was the capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, from 681-893. The location of the capital was not chosen at random – the valley surrounded by the hillsides of neighboring plateaus appealed to the proto-Bulgarians as a favorable place to pasture their herds.
The Madara national historical-archeological reserve
The national historical-archeological reserve “Madara” is located 17 km northeast of Shumen, 2 km from the village of Madara and 75 km from Varna. Towering cliffs, beautiful natural surroundings, and plentiful water drew people here from the dawn of history.
