Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
three daily), Veliko Târnovo (11 lv, two hours, several daily), Madara (2 lv, 20 minutes,
five daily), Veliki Preslav (2 lv, 30 to 60 minutes, three daily), Sofia (31 lv, six hours,
hourly) and Varna (11 lv, 1½ hours, nine daily). Private buses, such as those operated by
Etap Adress
( 830 670)
, also stop (at the same station) in Shumen on the Sofia-Varna
route.
From the
train station
( 860 155; pl Garov)
daily trains (including one express)
serve Varna (7 lv, two hours, nine daily), and fast trains reach Sofia (19 lv, four to seven
hours, two daily). Trains serve Ruse (12 lv, three hours, daily) and Plovdiv (18 lv, six
hours, daily). Two trains stop at Madara. The station has a left-luggage office.
Taxis wait at the bus and train stations, and are easily found downtown.
Madara
05313 / POP 1400
An important town for the mysterious Thracians around 7000 years ago, this village,
16km east of Shumen, was also settled during the Roman occupation. It's most famous
today for the Madara Horseman, a grand rock carving from the 8th-century Bulgar
khanate.
Sights
Madara National Historical & Archaeological Reserve
(admission 4 lv; 8am-7.30pm summer, to 5pm winter)
This reserve surrounds the so-
called Madara Horseman
(Madarski Konnik)
. Carved into a cliff 23m high, the bas-relief
features a mounted figure spearing a lion, followed by a dog.
This early 8th-century creation was made to commemorate the victorious Khan Tervel,
and the creation of the First Bulgarian Empire (681-1018). Bulgaria's only known medi-
eval rock carving, it's a Unesco heritage site.
At the reserve's entrance gate, the Madara booklet (2 lv, in English or German) explains
the site and gives information on the popular hiking trails to nearby tombs and caves.
Since the permanent scaffolding hides more of the bas-relief the closer you get, it's not ne-
cessary to climb up to the figure for the best views.
HISTORIC SITE
