The historical and archaeological preserve of Madara is about ten miles away to the east
     from the town of Shoumen, up the picturesque and  rocky  slopes  of  the  Madara  Plateau. The
    area is rich in finds dating back to various different  periods,  numerous  cultures, traces  left  by
    tribes and people that had either lived or just passed through there.
                In Greek the name of Madara denotes 'bald', 'bare', 'treeless',  such  was  the impression
    one got when looking at the rocks from some distance.
                In the caves at the foot of the rocks there was a smallish settlement during the Stone and
    Copper ages (3500 years B.C.). In the so-called 'Small Cave' a number of pottery, bone and flint
    artefacts  were  discovered  that  illustrated  the  life  of  the  inhabitants.   A   small   prehistoric
    settlement from the same period was also uncovered  down along the  Madara  Stream.   Life  in
    Thracian times (Fourth up to the First Century B.C.) is evidenced by the burial  mounds  at  the
    plateau as well as by the numerous finds of local ethnic origin.  In the large  cave,  close  to  the
    permanent stream running there was the Thracian shrine of the Three Nymphs, believed to have
    healthgivers and clan protectors.
                Late Antiquity  finds  (First to Fifth  Century A.D.)  were  quite  abundant  there.   Lower
    down from the rocks, in the valley below, there was a large villa rustica building, a farmer's cot -
    targe of sorts, designed like an Antique Greek  home.  Around  it  there  was  a  whole  settlement
    complete with a large public bathhouse, an Early-Christian Church as well as  many  other  civic
    and private buildings, sheds, cellars etc.
                Quite imposing, picturesque and abundant to finds from Antiquity is the  large  caved - in
    shelter formation, a specious ledge sheltered on three sides with sheer rock walls.
                Madara owns its world - wide renown to the unique relief of the  Madara Horseman,  our
    national pride, an image hewn high up the rock face. The horseman is lifesize, riding from left to
    right in a calm and dignified posture, his spear having just gone through a lion at the front hoofs
 
 

    beginning of the Eighth Century A.D. It depicts a triumphal scene symbolizing  the  grandeur  of
    the Bulgarian sovereign, most probably Khan Tervel and  possibly  Asparoukh  or Omourtagas
    as well all the might of the Bulgarian State which at the very dawn  of  its  inauguration  started
    playing an important part in international politics and life. Even proud and so far unconquered
    Bizantium had had to take it into consideration. The relief  is  an  example  of  Early  Mediaeval
    Bulgarian art. It is surrounded by inscriptions that represent a rock chronicle reflecting  impor -
    tant events and the relations between Bulgaria and Byzantium in the times of Tervel, Kroum and
    Omourtag (701 - 831 A.D.). Those inscriptions are part of the remarkable amount of rock archi -
    ves of the First Bulgarian State and point not only to the high cultural level of the rulers but also
    to their feelings of responsibility to the future generations.
                During the Middle Ages Madara was the leading cult centre of the State  throughout  the
    heathen period as well as later on, after adoption of Christianity.
                At the terrace situated to the north of the Horseman there is a considerable architectural
    ensemble of ancient Bulgarian cult buildings. There was a Proto-Bulgarian sanctuary on top of
    whose foundations a christian basilica had been built around the end of the Ninth Century.  All
    around it there was a large monastery.
                 In the times of well developed Feudalism (Twelfth Fourteenth centuries A.D.)  Madara
    had continued being a foremost cult centre. Up the rocks there were 150 hewn in cells, chapels
    and tombs comprising a huge monastic ensemble inhabited by monks preaching various different
    heresies. The later had sprung up as a result of protest against feudal oppression.
                 The cult ensemble included some other buildings as well. One of them looks  very  much
    like the Throne Room at Pliska as to its layout design.
                 Four houndred steps hewn in the rock lead  up  to  the  plateau  where  the  well - known
    Madara Fortress is dated back to the Fourth Century and functional probably until the Fifteenth
    Century or thereabouts. At the foot of the rocks there is now a Museum whose exposition illustra-
    tes many sides of the life of Ancient as well as Mediaeval Madara.