History

Explore the Madara rider

The Rider of Madara is located next to the village of Madara, near Shumen, about 370 km east of Sofia and 70 km from Varna. There, you will see something unique in European territory—an excavation of rock dating from the early eighth century.

The sculpture of Madara’s Horse is 23m above the ground level and is 3.1 meters wide and 2.6 meters high. The monument consists of three figures in actual size: a horseman, a lion lying in front of him, and a running dog and inscriptions in the Greek language that refer to the events of Bulgarian history from the early eighth century to the ninth century.

Madara Rider

Prices

The price per adult is 2.5€, for student is 1€ while the private guide is 7.50€. Prices might vary.

Schedule

Open from April to October: 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM. The rest of the year 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Additional information

Nearby you can visit Pliska and Veliki Preslav Historical and Archaeological Reserves.

It is believed that the composition of the rock with the rider with a solemn movement to the right is an image of a Bulgarian ruler and symbolizes the power of the First Bulgarian State. Unfortunately, erosion cannot be neutralized, and some of the figures are in poor condition, and their importance cannot be unequivocally determined. Even so, a snake and an eagle can be found in the rock reliefs. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. For centuries, The Madara Knight near Shumen has attracted the attention of tourists and explorers because it is the only rock relief in Europe, the legacy of our ancestors and their greatness.

The Madara Rider is one of the 9 Bulgarian sites under the protection of UNESCO. 

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