Shoumen
is one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria. The life here dates from over 3200
years. The town is situated in Northeast part of Bulgaria in picturesque
valley. It is a crossroad of main roads between the river Denube, East
Balkan Mountains and Black sea.
In
Shumen and the plateau behind the town are preserved unique historical
monuments, dated from remote past to nowadays. The first inhabitants are
the Thracians. For the first time in Northeast region of Bulgaria a whole
village from the early iron epoch -12-11-th century B. C. was archeologically
researched. From V to I century B.C. the Thracians strengthen the village
by two fortress walls. During the period I- IV century the Thracians fortress
is transformed into a military Roman castle, which endured the destructive
Gothic invasion from III to IV century. From V to VI century Shumen fortress
is one of the strongest Byzantine fortresses.
During
the First Bulgarian Kingdom Shumen as a significant Bulgarian citadel
joins the ancient Bulgarian Fortresses, guarding the approach to the capitals
Pliska and Preslav. During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12-14 century) the
town of Shumen becomes a typical medieval town. Apart from military at that
time the town was also a considerable economical, commercial, industrial
and cultural centre with developed crafts.
In
the time of the first centuries of Ottoman domination Shunen is a big
administrative and military centre with public buildings, numerous craft
and trade shops and it is one of the Turkish towns with the biggest
population,
completely depending by the Bulgarians. Its masters-blacksmiths, coppersmiths,
fur-dressers are very skilful. They trade with Manchester, Prague, Vienna
and Budapest. In the epoch of Renaissance Shumen is a leading centre in the
cultural sphere, with active community centres and theaters. In 1851 the
first Bulgarian orchestra and opera theatre are founded here and 
in
1856 the first theatrical play was performed. Sava Dobroplodni establishes
the
first school for young girls in Shoumen. The first reciprocally school dares
from 1846. Here were born and worked the Bulgarian drama author Dobri Vojnikov,
and Vasil Drumev, the first Bulgarian novel author. One of the April epopee
apostles, Panayot Volov was born here also.
In
one of the significant Shumen Renaissance houses had lived the leader
oh the Hungarian revolution Layosh Koshut. The citizen of Shumen gave their
respectable contribution to the April rising and the Bulgarian volunteer
force during The Russian-Turkish Liberation war.
After
the liberation the town of Shumen is developing as a big administrative
and industrial centre of a wide area. It preserves its value as a cultural
and educational centre, following the Renaissance traditions.
The industry in the town is developed-building of heavy-freight automobiles,
non-ferrous metallurgy and furniture and clothes production. The fist brewery
in Bulgaria was built here producing now “Shumensko pivo”- one of the best
beers in the country.
Nowadays
Shumen is a cultural and
educational
centre with university and collage, theater, libraries, museums. The
beautiful nature, the picturesque
surroundings and the historical monuments from various epochs attract thousands
tourists, whose travel to the town is always pleasant due to the ensured
railway and auto transport.
