The Shumen Plateau (Shoumen Plato) spreads over about 40 sq. km in the lands of Shumen town, Divdyadovo quarter, Lozevo village in the Shumen municipality and the villages Kochovo, Osmar, Troitsa and Han Krum from Veliki Preslav. Its average altitude is 305 m, and the highest point – the Tarnovo hill reaches 502 m. Dozens of hermit monasteries from the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom are situated on its territory.

     Let's start at Osmar (Osman), a small village nested at the foot of ancient hills, 14 km South of the city of Shumen. It is situated between the first two Bulgarian capitals - Pliska and Veliki Preslav, the place where the aristocrats from the king's closest circles had built their residences. Tourists can visit the church of St. St. Constantine and Elena, which has 150 years of history, to see the icons that are believed to have healing effect on visitors.

   One of the interesting sights near the village are the rock monasteries. The monk's cells and kirks, which were carved out of the rock by people who lived there in the XII to XIV centuries. Some of the monasteries in the Shumen plateau that could be visited are at Han Krum (Khan Krum),  Kostadinovski, Troitsa, Divdiadovski (Divdyadovo), Osmar  and the protected impressive rock church Direkliata (direk is Bulgarian for pillar, beam) named after the cut rock pillar at the entrance, however the cloister is some 10 m above the ground and is unreachable without equipment.

    Climbing up to the Han Krum monastery happens through a unique spiral stair. The monastery itself is hidden among the greenery of the south slopes of the Shoumen plateau.
   The Divdiadovski (the Wild Old Man’s) monastery is extremely impressive, and was named by the people of a village lying close. Later the same village was named after the monastery, and is now a district in Shoumen – Divdiadovo. (Divdyadovo).
    Approaching the Divdiadovski monastery, situated on the south eastern slope of the plateau, is quite risky. The road passes above a precipice and the approach is not safe. The access is rather hard, almost impossible without equipment. The explorers suppose that the hermits used to climb via rope-ladders. With extreme care super fit enthusiasts may reach a part of the monks’ cells. This however is not recommended to normal folk. Apart from this,

    nearly all traces of wall paintings have gone, and the inscriptions have been erased from most cells. These three monks’ cloisters are but a few kilometres away from one to another but finding them without a local guide is almost impossible.

       The Kostadinovski monastery is the most protected one. It is carved at a height of 8-10 meters in a sheer rock face, and can be entered thanks to the people from  Osmar who have saved its entrance with a wooden staircase. It is supposed that the monastery was named after St. Constantine and Helena, but there is no historical prove for this.

       After entering, it is easy to see the altar. On the eastern wall there are fragments of wall paintings. According to the data of the first explorer of the monastery Karel Shkorpil the picture is of a saint with white beard and a halo.

        Close to the Kostadinov monastery is situated the natural phenomenon Okoto (the Eye) or Halkata (the Ring) and was the scene of ancient sacrifices.  The area is known locally as Boaza (a gorge), and has many natural rock formations. One of many Boasi (gorges) on Shumen Plateau.

    Here you can feel the strong energy field that has given this place prominence in the century-old heathen tradition. There is an old heathen sanctuary there and its altar concentrates the strongest energy field.

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Caves of the Shumen Plateau