Madara Rider
We will pick you up from your accommodation / hotel in Varna at 9 AM. In about an hour drive we will reach our first destination, the Madara Archaeological Reserve, featuring a rock relief sculpture from the dawn of the Bulgarian state back in the 8th century. Because of its uniqueness the Madara Rider relief is included in the list of the UNESCO world cultural heritage sites.
Admission Not Included
Shumen Fortress
Having spent about an hour at Madara, we will continue our trip to the town of Shumen. There we’ll visit the Shumen fortress located on a high plateau 2 km from the town and dated as far back as the Troyan war (about 13 c BC). Shumen Fortress (the Old Town) is the most significant historical and archaeological site on the territory of the nature park. It is a sophisticated complex of residential, religious, and fortification buildings. Today Shumen Fortress is a well-researched, preserved, and partially restored historical and archaeological reserve. The plateau itself was declared a nature park in 1980 with the aim of preserving its valuable flora and fauna species, its tableland landscape and its tourist spots and places for rest.
Admission Not Included
Monument "1300 Years of Bulgaria"
While in the area, we also visit The Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument, which is located 6 km away from Shumen, at 450 m above mean sea level. It stands on a hill on the territory of Shumen Plateau Nature Park. The idea to build the monument was conceived in 1977 during the preparations for the celebration of the 1300th anniversary since the establishment of the Bulgarian state (681). The monument consists of two groups of concrete blocks separated from one another by small spaces. The biggest outdoor mosaic-triptych in Europe can be seen here. A granite lion weighing 1000 tons is placed on the top of the memorial. We may have, of course, a walk in the old part of the town, where we’ll have our lunch.
Admission Not Included
Provadia
On our back way to Varna, we will visit the Ovech fortress – another picturesque site with a stone stronghold located east of the town of Provadia. The area abounds in unique natural formations such as attractive surface and underground karst caves. There are also ponors, sinkholes, picturesque valley formations shaped as small canyons and inaccessible rock rims, etc.
