Montana: Roman Times, Museums and Landscapes

In Montana, archaeological remains and museums meet a varied landscape: in the south, the municipality is low-mountainous and hilly, while farther north it gives way to gentler hills and plains. This range shapes the view of a region where cultural history and nature can be explored side by side.

Landscapes between the Fore-Balkan and the Danubian Plain

The municipality extends across the Western Fore-Balkan and the Western Danubian Plain. Its main rivers include the Ogosta, Tsibrica and Lom. The Ogosta Reservoir is also within the municipality. Its earth-fill dam is considered the largest of its kind in Bulgaria and one of the largest in the Balkans; its capacity is 500 million cubic metres.

The protected areas offer a different focus from the reservoir. In the village of Virove, the Kitka protected area covers 1.8 hectares and preserves an endangered, centuries-old sessile oak forest. Sto Ovtsi protects the habitats of protected plants and animals, as well as rock communities and a distinctive landscape. Those interested in Montana’s natural side will find two distinct protected areas here: Kitka, with its old oak trees, and Sto Ovtsi, with its habitats and rocky landscapes.

Activities and trip planning

Tourism development plans include health trails along the Ogosta, as well as sport fishing and water sports at the Ogosta Reservoir. The concept also includes rural and ecotourism with recreation complexes. These themes offer a guide for planning your trip; check current trails and activities before making a specific visit.

A simple distinction can help you choose the focus of your trip: in the city of Montana, museums and archaeological remains take centre stage, while river landscapes, protected areas and the reservoir show other sides of the municipality. When looking for a hotel, consider which of these themes matter most for your trip. The destinations described are in different parts of the municipality, so plan them as separate stops rather than assuming they form a short route.

Roman history and archaeological sites

The ancient city of Montanesium began in the first half of the first century AD as a Roman military camp built over an older Thracian fortress. The city of Montana is home to a Roman bath and the Hristo Mihaylov House Museum. The open-air lapidarium displays stone remains from buildings and temples found in the area. Marble statues from ancient Montana are on display at the National Archaeological Museum.

On Kaleto Hill, about 40 metres above Montana, an archaeological site contains evidence from several periods. This includes a Roman-era gate and tower, barracks and a basilica, Slavic dwellings, a sanctuary and earlier Chalcolithic dwellings. From Kaleto, you can look out over Montana and the Ogosta Reservoir. The museum offers guided tours of the ancient and medieval fortress; check the current arrangements before your visit.

Other archaeological sites are scattered across the municipality: near Smolyanovtsi there is a Roman fort, and near the village of Virove there is an ancient fortress in the Perungrad area. Gorna Verenitsa has an ancient settlement, a Roman military administrative building and a tomb. Together with the finds in the lapidarium and the structures on Kaleto, these sites tell of different periods in the region’s history.

Museums, art and regional traditions

The Regional Historical Museum preserves more than 60,000 movable cultural objects. The collection spans from the Chalcolithic Age to the first decades of the 21st century and includes Roman inscriptions, a copy of the Yakimovo Treasure, a local treasure dating to the 14th century, icons and Chiprovtsi carpets. The exhibitions are spread across three main buildings. The Mikhailova House depicts typical urban and rural life in the region.

The Kiril Petrov Art Gallery also offers a distinct perspective on the area’s art. It holds around 2,500 works, about 150 of which are on display in the permanent exhibition. These include Bulgarian painting and applied arts, as well as icons. The approximate figures give an idea of the collection’s size, while the permanent exhibition offers a focused introduction to selected works.

The recurring Babina Dushitsa culinary festival showcases old recipes, festive spreads and reinterpreted classics; partner cities from abroad also take part. At one edition, dishes served included Kumka hen stuffed with filling, bean soup with porcini mushrooms, ritual bread, mesnik and nettle moussaka. The selection may vary from one edition to another. Annual festivals and cultural events also attract visitors; dates and programmes differ from year to year.

Getting around the municipality of Montana

The municipality is located at a transport and geographic crossroads and has convenient access to the borders with Romania and Serbia; cross-border tourism is among the region’s prospects. The E79 runs through the municipality as part of TEN-T Corridor 4. When planning a stay, it is worth treating the cultural programme, landscapes and places outside the city as distinct focuses, and organising each day accordingly.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gabrovnitsa, Lom, Berkovitza, Chiprovtzi, Valchedram, Varshetz, Georgi Damyanovo

For the wider travel overview: Montana Province.