The modern county of Shumen is situated in the central part of north-eastern Bulgaria and comprises an area of 630 square kilometres. It is in the north-eastern planning region of Bulgaria. The county is in the middle of the Shumen province – bordering to the south with the counties of Veliki Preslav and Smyadovo, and to the north – with the counties of Caspichan and Hitrino. The town of Shumen itself is sited on an important transport junction. The Shumen region is distinguished with rich historic and cultural heritage, a factor of paramount importance for the development of cultural tourism. The largest city in the region is Shumen – a town of long history, where you can visit interesting cultural and architectural monuments, among them the exceptionally beautiful houses – museum of influential Bulgarians from the period of National Revival, many other museums and galleries. Near the town is the impressive monument complex, called “The Fathers of the Bulgarian State”, and the Shumen fortress. The remnants of the second capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom – Veliki Preslav, which are now to the south of the modern town and the Preslav\'s gold treasure, now exhibited in the historical and cultural museum “Veliki Preslav”, are of particular interest to the tourists. The imposing remains of the old city were discovered only 2 kilometres away from the modern town of Veliki Preslav. The old city was the capital of Bulgaria from 893 to 969 A.D. in the times of its supremacy and the Golden Era of the Bulgarian culture. The capital city sprung up systematically. It has the same construction of the gates, the towers and the walls like the ones in Pliska, the first capital city. As with the town of Veliki Preslav, the modern town of Pliska is only 2 kilometres away from the remains and the imposing construction of the first-ever Bulgarian capital city. The capital had three concentric defences all around it. The capital city of Veliki Preslav is forever linked with the flowering of the medieval Bulgarian culture, the so called Golden Age. The vicinity of Madara is a place full of mysticism and secrets. Long ago it was the main sanctuary of the ancient pagan Bulgarians, living in the times of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. The world-famous Madara rider is situated in the archaeological reserve of “Madara”, just one and a half kilometres to the east of the town of Madara, in the Shumen region. It is under the protection of UNESCO. The unique rock relief is carved as a symbol of the might of the Bulgarian State during its khan\'s period. Around the figure of the rider numerous inscriptions were carved too. Some 17 kilometres to the east of the town of Shumen along the highway Sofia – Varna beautiful and grand rocks attract the attention. They enclose the plateau over the village of Madara and give its unapproachable look.
