Montana combines Roman history with a landscape that changes considerably across the municipality. In the south, the terrain is low-mountainous and hilly; farther north, it gives way to gentler hills and plains. The municipality includes parts of the Western Fore-Balkan and the Western Danubian Plain. This gives you different options when planning your trip: you can focus your stay on archaeological sites and museums, or give greater priority to waterscapes and protected areas. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, first consider which of these discoveries you want to shape your days. The destinations are spread across different places in the municipality and do not automatically form a single sightseeing route.
Landscape, Reservoir and Protected Areas
The municipality’s 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; the reservoir holds 500 million cubic metres. The water and river landscape therefore provide a distinct focus alongside the historic sites.
The Kitka protected area is located in the territory of the village of Virove. Covering 1.8 hectares, it preserves an endangered, centuries-old sessile oak forest. Sto Ovtsi protects the habitats of protected plants and animals, rock communities and a distinctive landscape. The protected area includes the 95-metre-high Razchepatiyat Kamak rock formation. The two areas offer different highlights: Kitka is known for its ancient oak forest, while Sto Ovtsi features rocky scenery and protected habitats.
Montanesium and Kaleto Fortress
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. Kaleto Fortress also tells the story of several eras. The archaeological site lies on a hill about 40 metres above Montana. Finds and structures there include a Roman-era gate and tower, barracks, a basilica, Slavic dwellings, a sanctuary and older Chalcolithic dwellings. From Kaleto, views extend over Montana and the Ogosta Reservoir.
The Regional History Museum offers guided tours of the ancient and medieval fortress. If you would like to include this in your plans, check what is currently available before your visit. A Roman bath and the Hristo Mihaylov House Museum are also located in the city of Montana. In Smolyanovtsi, a Roman castellum is part of the municipality’s cultural and historical heritage.
Museums, Collections and Regional Art
The Regional History Museum preserves more than 60,000 movable cultural artefacts dating from the Chalcolithic period to the first decades of the 21st century. Its collections include Roman inscriptions, a copy of the Yakimovo Treasure, a local treasure hoard from the 14th century, icons and Chiprovtsi carpets. The exhibitions are spread across three main buildings. The open-air lapidarium displays stone remains from buildings and temples in the surrounding area; marble statues from ancient Montana are exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum.
The Mikhailova House presents typical urban and rural ways of life from the Montana region. The Kiril Petrov Art Gallery holds around 2,500 works, about 150 of which are on display in the permanent exhibition. These include Bulgarian paintings, applied arts and icons. For those interested in culture, the museum, house museum, lapidarium and gallery complement the archaeological sites with varied insights into collecting history, everyday life and art.
Other Places and Reasons to Visit
There are archaeological destinations outside the city as well: the Perungrad area near the village of Virove contains an ancient fortress. Gorna Verenitsa is home to an ancient settlement, a Roman military administrative building and a tomb. Together with Kaleto and the finds in Montana, these sites show that historic attractions are located in different parts of the municipality. Choose your itinerary according to the places and themes you actually want to visit.
Annual festivals and cultural events are also part of the municipality’s cultural life; dates and programmes vary. The recurring culinary festival Babina Dushitsa showcases old recipes, ritual feasts and updated versions of classic dishes. Partner cities from abroad also take part. If a festival is important to your trip, check the dates for your preferred travel period.
The municipal development plan lists health trails along the Ogosta, sport fishing and water sports at the Ogosta Reservoir, as well as rural and ecotourism with recreational complexes, among the area’s tourism options. Before making plans, check which trails and activities are currently available. This lets you choose between culture, scenery and activities on the water without treating the municipality’s different places as a single excursion destination.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Gabrovnitsa, Valchedram, Chiprovtzi, Varshetz, Lom, Berkovitza, Georgi Damyanovo.
Return to the regional travel overview: Montana Province.
