Rock Monasteries on Shumen Plateau

13 kilometers from Shumen, comprising of churches, several cells and tombs, rock monasteries are located. The biggest monastery of all is called “Kostadinov monastery”.

The Direkliya monastery was carved into a solid inaccessible rock. It is considered to be connected with the name of King Konstantin “king and ruler of all Bulgarians” from the Second Bulgarian kingdom. Southeast of the Direkliya monastery can be seen another formation with a horse-shoe shaped floor.

Another monastery can be seen 13 km from Shumen, northwest of Troitza village into a rock called Mamil Tash. Into the same defile, consisting of two separate galleries, cave grooves are preserved.    

Khan Krum rock monastery is located 9 km from Shumen. Steep stones carved into the rock lead to an altar. Monks lived in natural caves during 12th – 14th c.  You can also see the Kalugerovo cave (or the Stair cave) above the village of Khan Krum. To reach the cave, you need to walk the staircase. The cave has three rooms, carved with special tools. The eastern room is the church, approximately 4×7 m. It has an apse with a cylindrical vault and two symmetrical niches. The light naturally enters from an opening at the south side of the church. To find the rock monastery, you need to walk the pathway from the village of Khan Krum. There is a fountain and a place to rest on the way. Another option is to walk a path from the The Students’ Grave (Groba na kursistite). There is a parking place nearby.

The Sudents’ Grave is an important monument created to commemorate the death of three students (Dimo Penchev, Mara Baleva and Cviata Hristova) fighting against fascism. You can see the monument on this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW4OPZFx6uc

There are more monastic cells in the Eastern side of the plateau. Some of them are carved in the rock, while others are created like constructions hanging from the rock.

There are more than 10 monastic cells above the Divdyadovo district. The steps, leading to the cells are well preserved and the walls are carved with murals which are not visible anymore.

For information and guides:

Shumen Plateau Nature Park Administration
2 Stara Planina Street, Shumen
Tel/ fax: +359 (54) 800 765
www.shumenskoplato.net