Sumen, town in Varna Region, in northeastern Bulgaria, lying 80 km (50 mi) west of the Black Sea port of Varna. Sumen's economy is based on the manufacture of trucks and naval equipment and the production of aluminum. Sumen is one of Bulgaria's few aluminum-producing sites. The town is also known for its beer and tobacco industries.
Sumen is distinguished by the Madara Rider, a nearby rock relief of a Bulgarian knight. The relief, carved in the early 8th century, has been designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO's World Heritage list recognizes the world's unique natural and cultural places. Sumen also features the Tombul Jamiya, one of Bulgaria's largest mosques; a 14th-century bazaar; and a clock tower dating from 1704. Bulgaria's national theater and its oldest orchestra are based in Sumen.
