Shoumen Fortress

The historical and architectural reserve Shoumen Fortress is situated 3 km west of the center of the town of Shoumen. The fortress has existed for more than 3200 years, as the district has been inhabited since high antiquity. The Shoumen Fortress is very well preserved and is the local biggest historical and architectural monument. According to the archeologists the stronghold was built at four platforms in the antiquity, and was expanded later in the Middle Ages. During the invasion of the Slavs and Avars the fortress was destroyed. Later the Bulgarian khan Omurtag built it again. In 11th century the stronghold was conquered by the Byzantine army. As a Bulgarian bulwark the Shoumen fortress has played quite a significant role. It survived even in the early years of the Ottoman yoke. In 1444, during the crusade of Wladyslaw Warnenczyk (Wladislaus III of Varna) the stronghold was destroyed and burned down. This is one of the best-studied archeological monument in the country. The fortress and cult architecture, the houses and the outhouses, and the thousands of movable monuments show the variety of functions the fortress had during the different ages, especially during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Today, the Shoumen fortress is an outdoor museum.