Madara National Historical and Archaeological Park image

Madara National Historical and Archaeological Park

Tourist attraction National park

One of the Best Places To Visits in Shumen


Address

9971 Madara, Bulgaria

Rating on Google Maps

4.80 (4.4K reviews)

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Working Hours

  • Thursday: Open 24 hours
  • Friday: Open 24 hours
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours
  • Sunday: Open 24 hours
  • Monday: Open 24 hours
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Madara (9) interesting (6) view (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Niki P. 2 years ago on Google
    The historical complex is interesting and it's worth visiting. The steps leading to the top of the cliff are a challenge but the view from the top is worth it. The Madara Horseman is about 20m above ground and for a better view you may need binoculars as such are not available on site.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 D G. 10 months ago on Google
    Incredible place! You will not regret if you choose to visit!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nadezhda D. 3 years ago on Google
    Madara rocks - a magnetic place in all seasons. There are some tourist roads. And the most interesting in winter is the big Madara cave. The water here is healthy and in the cold weather it turns to beautiful icicles. The Madara Rider or Madara Horseman[1] (Bulgarian: Мадарски конник, Madarski konnik) is an early medieval large rock relief carved on the Madara Plateau east of Shumen in northeastern Bulgaria, near the village of Madara. The monument is dated in the very late 7th,[2] or more often very early 8th century, during the reign of Bulgar Khan Tervel.[3] In 1979 became enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage List.[4]
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Martyna S. 1 year ago on Google
    The park is impressive. The nature is absolutely stunning. If you want to see the most beautiful part, get ready for a hike to the fortress and you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeous view.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Vivian B. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful park where you can see “The Madara Rider”, a large rock relief dated back to 710, made by the ancient Bulgars, a national symbol of Bulgaria. There could be better signs and more English translations. Maybe an information center with a video displaying the history of Bulgaria to would make it more interesting.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Angelo S. 2 years ago on Google
    Wonderful place to visit in Bulgaria! The view on the top is amazing!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Natalia N. 1 year ago on Google
    The Madara Rider is probably one of the most famous archaeological spot in Bulgaria. Dated in the 7th century, the rock relief is now enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The relief is believed to represent the Bulgarian Khan Tervel, although this is still not factually confirmed. Some believe that the horseman could well be the Iranian god Mithra. It is of natural size and is about 25 meters above ground. It is fairly easy to get to the Monument, as it is located in an area accessible by car. There's a cool park that was developed around the rocks and you can also take the longer trail, so you can enjoy clif views and the forst. Nearby are also several ancient buildings (earliest dated in the 5th century) which are believed to be pagan temples.

  • 4/5 Heather M. 1 year ago on Google
    I liked walking on the pathways and the trees are wonderful. We had a guide and this is what made this place very interesting.

  • 5/5 Laura W. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely area for a walk through history. The horseman is beautiful, but not so easy to see. Don't forget mosquito repellant!

  • 5/5 Mihaela Camelia A. 1 year ago on Google
    it takes your breath away!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  • 5/5 Denitsa S. 5 years ago on Google
    It is a masterpiece Bulgarians are proud of. Strongly recommend- there are interesting things to see besides the horseman. The nature is also amazing, there are a few caves, a temple in one of them, and a museum included in the park. The price is 5lv/2.5 EUR

  • 5/5 Radu C. 4 years ago on Google
    Astonishing! Two hours of amazing views over the Shumen plateau! First of all it is a real adrenaline rush while climbing up the stairs to the top. Once there a unique experience is guaranteed. You can see the Shumen city, many small villages and the Bulgarian monument although they are almost 20 km away. The fortress walls are pretty well preserved though inside there is almost nothing to see. Hope that authorities will restore the fortress so that anyone can feel the historical importance of this place. There also are well preserved prehistoric caves and lots of ruins of diverse religious buildings. Route sings and information boards are at every important objective.

  • 5/5 Chris S. 6 years ago on Google
    An interesting place to visit. The view from the fortress on top of the mountain is definitely worth the 595 step climb. There are a few caves and foundations of old buildings that you can view as well, so it's worth the 5lv entrance fee.

  • 5/5 Bogdan U. 8 months ago on Google
    Very nice place if you like walking. I went there for the rider but I discovered other attractions too.

  • 5/5 Ron W. 7 months ago on Google
    Beautiful there, and the way the cliffs are hanging above you... stunning! Also watch all the big rocks which fell down dringend many years. I love the place.

  • 5/5 vytebau 7 months ago on Google
    Very nice hike up the mountain on the stone steps.


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Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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