 |
MONTANA is 110 km from Sofia, on the
Ogosta River. Population c. 55 000. Built on the site of the Roman
fortress settlement Casta ad Montanezium, also known as Montana.
It's strategic position means it has been destroyed, rebuilt and
renamed several times in recorded history. In the third century
it was the most significant town in the province of Dakia under
the name of “Ripenziz”, later destroyed by the Barbarians.
During the Turkish rule, it was
known as “Kultovitsa”, while after the Liberation as “Goliama Kutlovitsa”,
then Montana for the first time in 1891. It became major Balkan
market and trade centre. After the First World War, many refugees
from Tsaribrod settled here. In 1945, the communists renamed it
Michailovgrad, then in 1993 regained the name Montana. Wonderful
ancient artefacts and treasures are now being found.
There are regular buses to Sofia,
Lom, Vidin, Belogradchik, Pleven, Vratsa. Montana is the main railway
station on the line Boichinovtsi –Berkovitsa.
South of the town are the remains
of the old Rome fortress. Many artefacts are now in the local Museum.
Fourteen miles west is the important Loupushna monastery.
The enormous Ogosta Lake has become
a wonderful place for rest, sports, scuba diving and fishing. The
first Balkan Flying Centre has just opened for gliding,paragliding
etc. Skiing is 18 miles away in Berkovitsa. Lots of forest for hunting.
|
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)