The Madara Horseman is a monumental rock relief carved into a 100-metre cliff face around 710 AD. It’s the only large-scale rock relief from the early Middle Ages found anywhere in Europe, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The carving depicts a horseman triumphing over a lion, with inscriptions in Greek recording the deeds of three Bulgarian khans. The surrounding archaeological reserve includes cave sanctuaries, a Roman villa, and a medieval rock monastery with over 150 chambers. Allow 2–3 hours to explore the full site. There’s a small entry fee.
Madaraomaya Guesthouse
Bulgarian Holidays