Shumen Region is situated in the central part of North-Eastern Bulgaria. It is bounded by the regions of Varna, Burgas, Sliven, Targovishte, Razgrad, Silistra and Dobrich. It extends over the Shumen Plateau, parts of the Ludogorie Plateau and the Provadiysko Plateau, parts of the Samuil Heights, the Dragoevska Mountain and the eastern Balkan Mountains. The region is cut by the Goliama Kamchia River, the Ticha River, the Vrana River, the Provadia River, etc. There are mineral springs at the foot of the Balkan Mountain and a spa resort – Mineralna voda. A big dam is built on the Ticha River. The Shumen Plateau Nature Park, the reserves of Patleyna Monastery and Konski Kesten (“Horse Chestnut”), a variety of caves, natural and cultural landmarks are all prerequisites for development of tourism. The Sofia-Varna and Shumen-Karnobat railroad lines, the Hemus highway, the Russe-Shumen-Varna, Sofia-Targovishte-Belokopitovo and Silistra-Shumen-Yambol international roads pass through the region. The Varbishki Pass and the Rishki Pass connect Northern and Southern Bulgaria. The region has well-developed industry and agriculture. White and rose wines were produced here as well as the wormwood wine of Osmar. The oldest stud farm in Bulgaria is located by the village of Konyovets. The cultural history of the region dates back to the Neolithic Age. Prehistoric communal cultures, mound necropolises, a great number of Thracian mounds and fortified settlements and Roman fortresses have been found in Shumen Region. The area has been part of the Bulgarian state ever since its establishment in 681. A lot of archeological landmarks related to the history of the First Bulgarian Kingdom have remained. The monumental remnants of the first capital cities of Bulgaria – Pliska and Veliki Preslav – are discovered there. The literary schools of Pliska and Preslav were founded in the 9th century establishing Bulgaria as a center of the Slavic culture and the reign of Tsar Simeon is dubbed the “Golden Century of Bulgarian Culture”. The cult site near the village of Madara has been worshipped by the Thracians and then by the Bulgars. The unique bas-relief of the Madara horseman (Madarski konnik), included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is located in this region.
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Provadia River, etc. There are mineral springs at the foot of the Balkan Mountain and a spa resort – Mineralna voda. A big dam is built on the Ticha River. The Shumen Plateau Nature Park, the reserves of Patleyna Monastery and Konski Kesten (“Horse Chestnut”), a variety of caves, natural and cultural landmarks are all prerequisites for development of tourism.
