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Shumen wasn’t always located where it is today. Since being settled in the 12th century BC, the city consisted of a fortress on a hill three kilometers west of present day Shumen.
The fortress has been used by the Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgars, and Ottomans. Traces near the site can be traced back to the Iron Age. In 1444, the Ottomans had the fortress destroyed and moved the town to its current location.
Visiting the Fortress
Nowadays, the remains of the medieval fortress is an open-air museum and archaeological site. It’s possible to visit and wander through the narrow streets. The fortress is open daily from 9am to 7pm and adult admission is 6лв (as of February 2024).
The site is clearly marked in Bulgarian and English, so visitors actually know what they’re looking at while walking through. It’s possible to see the foundations of churches, baptistries, Roman roads, and more.
Some of the outer walls and a watchtower have been reconstructed, giving a visitor an idea of what the fortress may have looked like before it was destroyed.
There are also excellent views of Shumen and the surrounding area.
