Montana
In Bulgarian Aplhabets: Монтана
Location: North-West Bulgaria
Area size of province: 3627km2
Population of province: 182258 people
Total Towns and Cities in Montana province: 8
Total Villages in Montana province: 121
Regional Center: Town of Montana
Municipalities in Montana Province: 11 - Berkovitsa, Boychinovtsi, Brusartsi, Chiprovtsi, Georgi Damyanovo, Lom, Medkovets, Montana, Varshets, Vulchedrum, Yakimovo
Montana Province covers the central regions of Northwestern Bulgaria. It is bounded by Vidin, Vratza and Sofia Regions; to the north it reaches out to the Danube and borders Romania and to the southwest it borders Serbia. The territory of the municipality covers parts of the hilly Danube Plain, the fore-Balkan Mountains and of the proper Balkan range. The landscape is predominantly hilly but in the northern parts it is plain and very suitable for building houses for rent in Bulgaria; in the south one can find the higher ridges of the Chiprovtzi-Berkovitsa Mountains and Koznitza. Water transport is a significant factor for the development of the region. The harbor of Lom is the second biggest river port in Bulgaria after Ruse. The Danube River is connected through the so-called “Europe Channel” with the rivers of Main and Rhine and connects the North Sea with the Black Sea. Some of the bigger rivers crossing the region are the Ogosta, the Lom and the Tzibritza. There are mineral springs near Varshetz and the villages of Zamphirovo, Spanchevtzi and Barziya. The Balkan Mountains shelter reservations with age-old spruce trees such as Usketo and Gorna Koriya, the protected area of Kopren (with the Kopren ecological path), Mishin Kamak cave and waterfalls.
In the plain part of the region plant growing is well developed, there are favorable conditions for automated tillage and artificial irrigation. Ogosta dam is near Montana – it is one of the biggest artificial lakes in the country. There are favorable conditions for development of balneological tourism, ecotourism and water sports which serve as an incentive for developing also houses for rent in Bulgaria.
Traces of pre-historic settlements, medieval fortresses and churches were found in the region. The area of the Chiprovtzi-Berkovitsa Mountains has been a prominent gold-mining area ever since ancient times. Ore mining was also well developed. The carpet industry developed as a craft in the 17th century. Chiprovtzi carpets are famous for their unique motley colors and design. Typical of them are floral ornaments, the basic colors being winy red, red and dark blue.
Montana
Province (oblast): Montana
Population: 54 932 (13.09.2005)
Altitude: 135 m
Geographic coordinates: 43° 25' north, 23° 14' east
Time zone: EET; (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer)
Mayor: Zlatko Zhivkov
Montana (Монтана) is a city in northwestern Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Montana Province. It is located 50 km south of the Danube, 40 km northwest of Vratsa and 30 km east of the Serbia and Montenegro border.
Geography
Montana is situated on the river Ogosta, north of Stara Planina, surrounded on the south and east by uplands. The climate is temperate continental, with a cold winter and hot summer. The average temperature is -2°C in January and 25°C in July. In the last 15-20 years, temperatures reaching up to 35-40°C in the summer are not uncommon.
History
Roman times
Aleko Konstantinov Square in MontanaThe region around Montana became part of the Roman province of Upper Moesia in 29 BC. Around 160, the military camp that was most likely founded on the remains of an older Thracian settlement, acquired city rights under the name of Municipio Montanensium. The city developed and urbanized after a Roman model and became the second most important settlement in the province after Raciaria (modern-day Archar). A fortress was built on top of the hill over Montana, as well as public and residential buildings, temples, baths and theatres. Montana became a typical imperial settlement, where the local Romanized population coexisted along Italic and Anatolian settlers. The bases of the town's economy were the big landowners of Italic origin and their villas and mansions, where the locals served to obtain agricultural production and gold from Ogosta's river valley. A stratum of Greek settlers, who engaged in craftsmanship and money-lending, existed in the town during the period. The patrons of Montana in the spirit of Hellenism were Diana and Apollo.
Middle Ages
Between 440 and 490, the northwest of modern Bulgaria was devastated by the raids of the Huns under Atilla and the Goths. Slavs and Avars delivered the final strike on the Greco-Roman culture in the region, and the Slavs that settled in the area called the town Kutlovitsa. During the time of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires, the settlement recovered and became the centre of an eparchy.
Ottoman rule
The remains of the old Turkish baths in MontanaAfter Kutlovitsa was seized by the Ottomans, the settlement was destroyed and became deserted. Between 1450 and 1688, the town was peopled by Turks due to its strategic location, and went through another period of blossoming as a typically Oriental town. Two mosques, Turkish baths, fountains and new buildings were erected. The Chiprovtsi Uprising that was crushed by Turkish forces solidified the position of Kutlovitsa as a Turkish ethnic area in the next 18th and 19th centuries. At the time of the Liberation of Bulgaria (1878), there were a Turkish (600 residents), a Bulgarian (50 residents) and a Gypsy quarter (100 residents).
Modern history
After the beginning of the Liberation a massive wave of migration rushed towards Kutlovitsa and a period of economic blossom commenced. An electric station, a train station, a post office and a hospital were built; a fair and a community centre emerged. Also the business with houses for rent in Bulgaria flourished.
Names
Kutlovitsa was renamed to Ferdinand in 1890, receiving the benevolence of Bulgarian Knyaz Ferdinand and a city status. In 1945, communist authorities changed the town's name to Hristo Mihaylov after red party activist Hristo Popmihaylov that died in 1944, who was born there. A year later the name was changed to Mihaylovgrad. In 1993, after a presidential decree, the town received the name Montana, inspired by its antic name.
Landmarks
The past of the Historical museum of Monatana is a part of the Bulgarian history. Almost 50 years the Museum researches, collects, preserves and popularizes the culture – historical wealth of the region. The first archeological diggings of the Rome settlement in 1915, under the fortress of “Montana” we can accept as the beginning of the museum work of the town. Another landmark in Montana is the Record Office – here are preserved the priceless document wealth from all the spheres of the social, political, cultural and economical life of the region. You also can visit the Art Gallery “Kiril Petrov”. According to the specialists this is one from the richest art galleries in the province. The visitors of the town usually use the houses for rent in Bulgaria to stay.
Transport
Bus and railway transport are the two types of transport connecting the town with the rest of the country. There are regular bus lines to Sofia, Lom, Vidin, Belogradchik, Pleven,Vratsa and to the smaller settlements. The bus station and the railway station are near to each other. Montana is transitional railway station on the line Boichinovtsi –Berkovitsa.
Surrounding Areas
South of the town are the remains of the old Rome fortress Kastra ad Montanezium. From this name comes the name of the town. Most of the findings, found there are in the Montana Historical Museum. Only at the distance of 22 km. west of the town is located the Loupushna monastery.
Yazovir Montana (Montana Dam) has been turned into a wonderful place for rest, sport, water tourism and fishing. Many holiday bases and establishments are built here and there is a regular bus transport. A wide net of houses for rent in Bulgaria is spread all around.
Ogosta river springs from Western Stara planina mountain. It flows into Danube river and its total water area is 3 157 c.km. There, at the river is erected the biggest dam in Bulgaria and at the Balkan peninsula. The dam is with total water area of 500 million c. m.
The Ogosta river is natural border of Montana and Kozlodui municipalities. Near to the river are located the Lopushanski and the Chiprovski monastery. The river comes from the high mountain parts of Stara planina mountain and passes through the small picturesque town of Chiprovtsi. The beautiful valley of the Ogosta river was inhabited from ancient Thracian tribes in the first millennium B.C.
The Historical Museum of Montana
History of the Museum
The attempts to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of Montana and the region start in the first decades of 20-th century. With a letter from september the 15-th, 1915, the director of the National museum in Sofia, notifies the mayor of Ferdinand for temporary suspension of the excavations in the sites “Kaleto” and “Izvora”. This is crucial for the exploration of the relics found in the uncovered Roman sanctuary. The collected “archeological antiques” are stored in the Archeological museum – Sofia.
In 1937 an archeological union “Montanesium” is founded by the local intelligence, with a purpose to find and store all archeological antiques, monuments and objects with historical value in the town and fit out a museum for them. Unfortunately the Ferdinand’s municipal authorities were unable to provide funds for that initiative and valuable historical monuments start moving to the National museum in Sofia. The houses for rent in Bulgaria offer a pleasant stay of the visitors of the museum.
The historical museum in Montana is founded in 1953. Two years later the house – museum “Christo Michailov” is founded in the memory of the revolutionist – patron of the town by that time. For nearly five decades a tremendous amount of work is done for collecting, scientific research and making popular the historical evidences. From 1968 to 1994 continuous archeological excavations are carried out. The researches do not only provide new evidences for the development of the town through the Roman age, but they also report for settlers life in the present town’s area from the stone-copper age to the end of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in 14-th century.
Researches of the material and the spiritual life on the territory of Montana are carried out through the years. These days the museum has rich collections of movable cultural monuments. The following departments have been formed: “Archeology”; “Ethnography”; “History of Bulgaria XV – XIX century”; “Modern History”; “Latest History”; “Funds”; “Public relations and advertising” and “Immovable historical monuments”.
The efforts of the experts are directed towards studying the prehistoric, ancient and the Middle ages of the region, the economic and demographic processes during 18-th and 19-th century, the political and culture life in the recent times. The workers in the museum also offer the services of the companies that deal with houses for rent in Bulgaria.
The museum owns a workshop for restoring and preserving of antiques, which serves the museum collections of the entire region. There are 621 registered immovable historical monuments of national and local value, which are subject of continuous maintenance.
For its 50 years of existence the museum turned to be an important institution in the town of Montana and the whole region.
Wealth of the Collections
The museum owns more than 50 000 pieces of cultural valuables made of wood, stone, metal, ceramics, glass, precious stones, cloths, also lots of photos and documents.
Archeology
The department is concerned with the museum exponents from the period from V – IV millennium B.C. to the end of the independent political and religious life of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in 14-th century. Through them you can trace the development of the material and spiritual culture and the historical processes taking place in a certain historical moment in the community of the region of today’s Montana.
Collections:
A very rich collection of prehistoric tools made of flint, stone and bones – flint promenades, knives, blades for sickles and arrows, stone hammers and axes, mattocks and awls from stag horns;
Collections of zoomorphic and anthropomorphic religious plastic arts made of clay and bones;
A rich collection of Thracian pottery – for religious and everyday necessities, including almost the whole known variety of forms and vessels decoration;
Collection of Thracian battle equipment from the end of the late Iron Age;
The Yakimovo Treasure – four bowls, two appliques for a bowl, two bracelets with ends formed like snake heads, cantharis – made of solid silver with gilded ornaments;
Collection of Roman ceramics, glass and bronze vessels for religious and everyday necessities;
Rich collection of Roman coins – bronze, silver and golden;
Representative for the local jeweller tradition collection of medieval silver and gilded ornaments and decorations – 12-th – 14-th century;
A big collective find of medieval copper coins (skipheus*) of the emperors Manuel I Comnenus (1143-1180), Andronicus I Comnenus (1183-1185), Isaak II Angelus (1185-1195), Alexius III Angelus - Comnenus (1195-1203), as well as Bulgarian imitative coin striking.
* skipheus – a cup-shaped coin first used in Byzantium. The clients of the houses for rent in Bulgaria are quite intrigued of the ancient history of Montana.
Bulgarian History XV – XIX century
More than 10 000 exponents, connected to the material, political and spiritual life of the people from the northwest Bulgarian lands during the time of the Ottoman rule and the Bulgarian renaissance are preserved here.
Of particular interest are the collections of old printed books, icons and church plates, in which the aspiration of the local Bulgarians for knowledge and artistic achievements have found an expression. The authors could be either anonymous, distinctive masters or famous artists with a great contribution to our national culture.
Ethnography
The department preserves objects from the material and spiritual culture of the people from Montana and the region, dating from 18-th to the first half of 20-th century. They are separated in rich collections with the following accents: The Chiprovtsi goldsmith school; The Chiprovtsi carpet-makers school; Berkovitsa pottery; Traditional garment and cloths.
Modern History
The department preserves cultural valuables from the period from the end of 19-th to the middle of 20-th century. The rich photographic and documental material presents the life in the town and the region of those days. The most interesting collections are: Coins and bank-notes from the Third Bulgarian Kingdom; Post cards; Charters and medals; Weapon – shotguns, bayonets and revolvers used by the Bulgarian army prior to World War the second.
Latest History
The department preserves: Samples and catalogues from the industrial production in Montana region; Photos, displaying the latest history of the town and the region; Charters, medals and distinctive signs of the Peoples Republic of Bulgaria (1946 – 1990); Documents and other matterial, connected with the activities of the actor Stefan Savov, the opera singer Siika Petrova and Yordanka Blagoeva – world and european champion in high jump. There are also photos, personal belongings and documents, donated by the families of Christo and Ivan Michailov. The tourists and the guests of the museum never miss the chance to buy souvenirs from it; they also love to stay in the houses for rent in Bulgaria.
The Michailov’s House
The Michailov’s House is the only restored and preserved Renaissance house in Montana. From the end of the 19-th century to the middle of the 20-th century the family of Father Michail Variklechkov, a priest in the local church, lives in the house.
Nowadays you can visit ethnographical exhibition “In the World of Grandma and Grandpa” in the house, which has more than 350 exponents of the traditional village and small town life from the end of the 18-th to the beginning of the 20-th century. Among the most interesting are the samples from the Chiprovtsi goldsmith and carpet-makers school, the ceramics and pottery from Berkovitsa, the cloth and garment pieces showing the Bulgarian woman’s sense for beauty. You can follow the development of the garment, furniture and overall upholster in the houses of the rich urban families from the end of 19-th to the beginning of 20-th century, under the influence of the modern trends of Western Europe.
Lapidarium*
The archeological exposition Lapidarium of epigraphic monuments from the Roman age is situated in the region of the ancient town Montana on 700 sq. meters in the park area of the Priest Garden. Nearby is the museum - memorial place “Michailov’s House” and the Orthodox temple “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”.
The massive space composition includes 56 monuments found in Montana. The scripts in the marble are the only written evidences, known so far, of this municipal Roman town, as a new cultural event in our lands. They contain exceptionally important cultural and historical matter about Montana during II – III century A.D., information about the cherished in the ancient sanctuary cults of Diana – “The goddess, protector of Montana”, of Apolneus, Esculapus, Higia, Latona, Silvanus and other divine personalities, of ordinary visitors and the above mentioned military forces, of honor to the ruling emperor, governors of province Dolna Mizia and other military and civil authorities.
The epigraphic monuments have undoubtedly important cultural and historical scientific value. These ancient signs are a symbol of our belonging to the roots of the European civilization in the new millennium of the mankind. They impress quite a lot the visitors who also turn to the comfort of the houses for rent in Bulgaria.
*Lapidarium (lat. Lapidarium) – a place, where stones of archeological value are arranged.
Ancient Fortress
The ancient fortress is situated on the hill “Kaleto” or “Gradishteto” in the southwest from Montana, at about 40 m. elevations above city level. As a result of archeological excavations, a city gate and a big tower have been uncovered – a brilliant example of III – IV century fortress construction. Few more military and civil buildings have been uncovered too, basilica and masonry from the Roman empire, buildings from the stone – copper age in the lowest cultural layers, as well as Slavic dwellings and a sanctuary.
The first settlement at this strategic and easy to protect elevation, with its rich water spring, is from the stone – copper age (IV millennium B.C.). It is a Thracian village, which has been fortified by a massive wall (with preserved thickness of more than 1 meter), following the outline of the area and dating back to the end of the early Iron Age.
The significance of the hill has been appreciated by the Roman authority. The fortifications have probably been built with the very beginning of the Roman occupation (The First Sugambrian cohort, which took part in the Thracian uprising suppress from 26 A.D.). A village starts growing around the military camp (first mentioned in an epigraphic document from 134 A.D.), and the ancient sanctuary near the water spring. In 160 – 161 the village is given municipal right – i.e. a statute of a town with surrounding territory. The name of the town – Montana has been saved in a manuscript from the II century. It’s been exposed to the visitors of the museum who are also inhabitants of the houses for rent in Bulgaria.
The economic and cultural advance of Montana from the II – IV century has been interrupted in the middle of the III century by the Gothic invasions. At the threat of new barbarian invasions, building of a fortress has been started. When this invasion has become more frequent in the IV or V century, a second fortress wall has been built to the south and east. The fortress is destroyed in VI – VII century in one of the Avarian or Slav raids. A Slavic village has been built lately over the ruins.
Berkovitsa
Province (oblast): Montana
Population: 16,928 (15.12.2004)
Altitude: 371 m
Geographic coordinates: 43° 14' north, 23° 7' east
Time zone: EET; (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer)
Mayor: Milcho Dotsov
Berkovitsa (Bulgarian Берковица) is a town in Northwestern Bulgaria. It is located in Montana oblast and is close to the town of Varshets. Berkovitsa is situated on the northern slope of the Berkovska Stara Planina Mountain along the valley of the Berkovitsa River, which is a tributary to the Barzia River, at an altitude above sea level 405 m. The town was mentioned for the first time in Ottoman documents of 1491. It is the successor of an old fortified settlement on the way from Sofia to Lom.
The remains of a fortress and a church were discovered at the Kaleto elevation west of the town. The settlement was known as early as the reign of King Kaloyan, and was mentioned as a border settlement in the period of the Vidin Kingdom. There are lots of historic remains around the town and they are an object of interest by many foreign tourists who can be accommodated in the houses for rent in Bulgaria.
Lom
Province (oblast): Montana
Population: 29 981 (13.09.2005)
Altitude: 20 m
Geographic coordinates: 43° 49' north, 23° 14' east
Time zone: EET; (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer)
Mayor: Penka Penkova
Lom (Лом) is a town in northern Bulgaria, part of Montana Province, situated on the right bank of the Danube, close to the estuary of the Lom River. It is 162 km north of Sofia, 56 km southeast of Vidin, 49 km north of Montana and 42 km west of Kozloduy. It is the second most important Bulgarian port on the Danube after Rousse. A well developed chain of houses for rent in Bulgaria is built along the river bank.
History
Antiquity and Dark Ages
Lom was founded by the Thracians under the name of Artanes in Antiquity. After them the Romans called the fortress and the town Almus, from where the name of the today's town and of the Lom River comes.
There are no reports proving that there existed a big settlement in the Middle Ages. It was not until Ottoman rule that it enlarged but for a long time it was under the shadow of the dominant towns of Vidin, Nikopol and Silistra. It is assumed that the Ottoman village was founded in 1695 by Kara Mustafa and Murad Bey, who were defeated at Vienna in 1683 and who came here sailing rafts along the Danube.
Ottoman rule and Bulgarian National Revival
The name Lom Palanka was mentioned for a first time in 1704. The settlement then called "palanka" was something between a village and a town in size and importance. In 1798 Lom suffered from brigand raids. With the development of shipping along the Danube after 1830, the importance of the town grew. The road to Sofia contributed to its progress and turned it into a main export port to Vienna (Austria). By 1869 there were 120 shops, 148 trade offices, 175 food shops, 34 coffee bars, 6 hotels and 2 mills. The town was centred on the old Kale (fortress), which was entered through three kapii (gates) — Vidinska, Belogradchishka, Sofiyska. The tradesmen from Lom offered goods at the biggest fairs in the region and beyond. In 1880 there were 7,500 inhabitants in the town.
Lom is proud of its traditions from the period of the Bulgarian National Revival. In 1856 the first community centre in Bulgaria was founded in the town, the first women's society in the country was elso established in 1858 and one of the first theatre performances took place in the town. Krastyu Pishurka, a noted educator, also worked in Lom.
Landmarks
Town Museum of History, housed in the building of the old town-hall.
Preserved foundations of the antique fortress Almus
Postoyanstvo, the oldest community centre in Bulgaria
Building of the former School of Pedagogy
Borunska Church
Monument of Tseko Voivoda (1807-1881), a participant in the battles for liberation of Serbia and pronounced by the Serbian government to be a voyvoda (revolutionary leader)
About the Historical Museum
Two of the halls of the Historical Museum – Lom are devoted to the icon art painting, church plate and old – printed matter books. The icons are very beautiful and were made by the masters from Debar, Tryavna, Bansko and Samokov art schools. There are over 400 works of local and Bulgarian artists at the Historical Museum of Lom.
In 1992 in the Revival house of Dim. Gigin was established an ethnographic exposition with typical for the Lom region villages clothes and customs. There were exposed and documents, photos and objects since 1878 – 1940.
Nowadays there are over 30 000 exponents in the museum. Biggest part of them is exposed in the two – storey building, cultural monument, which was erected at the end of the 19 th century. The last exposition finished in 2001 shows the biggest economical and cultural upsurge of the town. Due to the museum guestbook the foreign visitors who usually use houses for rent in Bulgaria are very impressed by the exposition.
Chiprovtsi
Province (oblast): Montana
Population: 2458 (13.09.2005)
Altitude: 478 m
Geographic coordinates: 43° 23' north, 22° 53' east
Time zone: EET; (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer)
Mayor: Ivan Pavlov
Chiprovtsi (Чипровци) is a town in Montana Province of northwestern Bulgaria, about 30 km from Montana, on the shores of the river Ogosta at the foot of western Balkan Mountains.
History
Antiquity and Dark Ages
An ore-miner settlement existed on the present location of Chiprovtsi since Thracian times. It was then populated by the Slavs, who named it Kiprovets. In the 13th century, the town received special privileges, as it was settled by Saxon ore-miners, who later accepted the Bulgarian language, but preserved the strong position of Roman Catholicism in the town thanks to Franciscan monks. Due to this influence, Chiprovtsi grew into a centre of Catholicism in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
Ottoman rule
On the ground of ore-mining, handicrafts and trade blossomed in Chiprovtsi, wares were exported to Central and Eastern Europe. The economic heyday attracted Bulgarian noblemen from the whole country, leading to a revival of culture and religion. The modern town reached the peak of its cultural, economic and political development during the first three centuries of Ottoman rule in Bulgaria, becoming the most significant centre of goldsmith's trade in the Balkans.
A secular school was built in the beginning of the 17th century, where Bulgarian and Latin were taught. The population of Chiprovtsi was half Catholic, half Eastern Orthodox by the time. Sons of the town's distinguished families, such as Petar Parchevich and Petar Bogdan Bakshev, studied theology in Italy, issuing books and becoming a part of European
The Chiprovtsi Uprising
In 1688, after heavy casualties were caused to the Ottoman armies by the coalition of Austrian, Polish and Venetian forces, Bulgarians from Chiprovtsi initiated the Chiprovtsi Uprising against Ottoman rule, which failed due to lack of assistance by the coalition, and was brutally crushed by janissary troops, who burned numerous villages in the area to the ground, forcing people from the whole region to flee to neighbouring countries, some of them setting up a Bulgarian community in the Banat, the Banat Bulgarians. The brave past of Chiprovtsi attract travelers who can be accommodated in the houses for rent in Bulgaria in the town.
Valchedram
Valchidram is settled in the Northeast part of the Montana district. The town is regional municipal center. Valchedram is located in the West Danubian plain, in the fertile place of “Zlatia”, along the two banks of the Tsabrica and Danube rivers. The municipality occupies a territory from 426 000 dka, and includes the remarkable natural reserve of “Ibisha”. The town is situated at 40 km. northeast of Montana, at 27 km. southwest of Kozlodui and at 23 km. southeast of Lom.
History
The settlement has rich history. There are a lot of archeological monuments from the Thracian and Roman times. Here was born Puncho priest. He found the first school in the town in 1780. The town of Valchidram is the birthplace of Dimitar Marinov – a prominent local ethnograph and historic. Very interesting is the temple “St. Paraskeva”. Accept its impressive architecture; it is famous for its big iconostasis. If you visit the town exhibition, you can enjoy to the opulent history of the town.
Natural Characteristics
The town of Valchidram has very clean environment. Systemic control about the environment is made in the town of Kozlodui. Through the town passes the Tsibritsa River. Its waters are very clean. The virgin landscape is suitable for vacation that the tourists can spent in houses for rent in Bulgaria.
The region of the Valchedram has an opulent variety of birds. There are more than 100 species of birds. The biggest part of them is here through the whole year, but there are some that just pass. In the surrounding areas of the town is located the “Ibisha” reserve – it represents an island in the Danube river, near to the village of Dolni Tsibar.
Location: North-West Bulgaria
Area size of province: 3627km2
Population of province: 182258 people
Total Towns and Cities in Montana province: 8
Total Villages in Montana province: 121
Regional Center: Town of Montana
Municipalities in Montana Province: 11 - Berkovitsa, Boychinovtsi, Brusartsi, Chiprovtsi, Georgi Damyanovo, Lom, Medkovets, Montana, Varshets, Vulchedrum, Yakimovo
Montana Province covers the central regions of Northwestern Bulgaria. It is bounded by Vidin, Vratza and Sofia Regions; to the north it reaches out to the Danube and borders Romania and to the southwest it borders Serbia. The territory of the municipality covers parts of the hilly Danube Plain, the fore-Balkan Mountains and of the proper Balkan range. The landscape is predominantly hilly but in the northern parts it is plain and very suitable for building houses for rent in Bulgaria; in the south one can find the higher ridges of the Chiprovtzi-Berkovitsa Mountains and Koznitza. Water transport is a significant factor for the development of the region. The harbor of Lom is the second biggest river port in Bulgaria after Ruse. The Danube River is connected through the so-called “Europe Channel” with the rivers of Main and Rhine and connects the North Sea with the Black Sea. Some of the bigger rivers crossing the region are the Ogosta, the Lom and the Tzibritza. There are mineral springs near Varshetz and the villages of Zamphirovo, Spanchevtzi and Barziya. The Balkan Mountains shelter reservations with age-old spruce trees such as Usketo and Gorna Koriya, the protected area of Kopren (with the Kopren ecological path), Mishin Kamak cave and waterfalls.
In the plain part of the region plant growing is well developed, there are favorable conditions for automated tillage and artificial irrigation. Ogosta dam is near Montana – it is one of the biggest artificial lakes in the country. There are favorable conditions for development of balneological tourism, ecotourism and water sports which serve as an incentive for developing also houses for rent in Bulgaria.
Traces of pre-historic settlements, medieval fortresses and churches were found in the region. The area of the Chiprovtzi-Berkovitsa Mountains has been a prominent gold-mining area ever since ancient times. Ore mining was also well developed. The carpet industry developed as a craft in the 17th century. Chiprovtzi carpets are famous for their unique motley colors and design. Typical of them are floral ornaments, the basic colors being winy red, red and dark blue.
Montana
Province (oblast): Montana
Population: 54 932 (13.09.2005)
Altitude: 135 m
Geographic coordinates: 43° 25' north, 23° 14' east
Time zone: EET; (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer)
Mayor: Zlatko Zhivkov
Montana (Монтана) is a city in northwestern Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Montana Province. It is located 50 km south of the Danube, 40 km northwest of Vratsa and 30 km east of the Serbia and Montenegro border.
Geography
Montana is situated on the river Ogosta, north of Stara Planina, surrounded on the south and east by uplands. The climate is temperate continental, with a cold winter and hot summer. The average temperature is -2°C in January and 25°C in July. In the last 15-20 years, temperatures reaching up to 35-40°C in the summer are not uncommon.
History
Roman times
Aleko Konstantinov Square in MontanaThe region around Montana became part of the Roman province of Upper Moesia in 29 BC. Around 160, the military camp that was most likely founded on the remains of an older Thracian settlement, acquired city rights under the name of Municipio Montanensium. The city developed and urbanized after a Roman model and became the second most important settlement in the province after Raciaria (modern-day Archar). A fortress was built on top of the hill over Montana, as well as public and residential buildings, temples, baths and theatres. Montana became a typical imperial settlement, where the local Romanized population coexisted along Italic and Anatolian settlers. The bases of the town's economy were the big landowners of Italic origin and their villas and mansions, where the locals served to obtain agricultural production and gold from Ogosta's river valley. A stratum of Greek settlers, who engaged in craftsmanship and money-lending, existed in the town during the period. The patrons of Montana in the spirit of Hellenism were Diana and Apollo.
Middle Ages
Between 440 and 490, the northwest of modern Bulgaria was devastated by the raids of the Huns under Atilla and the Goths. Slavs and Avars delivered the final strike on the Greco-Roman culture in the region, and the Slavs that settled in the area called the town Kutlovitsa. During the time of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires, the settlement recovered and became the centre of an eparchy.
Ottoman rule
The remains of the old Turkish baths in MontanaAfter Kutlovitsa was seized by the Ottomans, the settlement was destroyed and became deserted. Between 1450 and 1688, the town was peopled by Turks due to its strategic location, and went through another period of blossoming as a typically Oriental town. Two mosques, Turkish baths, fountains and new buildings were erected. The Chiprovtsi Uprising that was crushed by Turkish forces solidified the position of Kutlovitsa as a Turkish ethnic area in the next 18th and 19th centuries. At the time of the Liberation of Bulgaria (1878), there were a Turkish (600 residents), a Bulgarian (50 residents) and a Gypsy quarter (100 residents).
Modern history
After the beginning of the Liberation a massive wave of migration rushed towards Kutlovitsa and a period of economic blossom commenced. An electric station, a train station, a post office and a hospital were built; a fair and a community centre emerged. Also the business with houses for rent in Bulgaria flourished.
Names
Kutlovitsa was renamed to Ferdinand in 1890, receiving the benevolence of Bulgarian Knyaz Ferdinand and a city status. In 1945, communist authorities changed the town's name to Hristo Mihaylov after red party activist Hristo Popmihaylov that died in 1944, who was born there. A year later the name was changed to Mihaylovgrad. In 1993, after a presidential decree, the town received the name Montana, inspired by its antic name.
Landmarks
The past of the Historical museum of Monatana is a part of the Bulgarian history. Almost 50 years the Museum researches, collects, preserves and popularizes the culture – historical wealth of the region. The first archeological diggings of the Rome settlement in 1915, under the fortress of “Montana” we can accept as the beginning of the museum work of the town. Another landmark in Montana is the Record Office – here are preserved the priceless document wealth from all the spheres of the social, political, cultural and economical life of the region. You also can visit the Art Gallery “Kiril Petrov”. According to the specialists this is one from the richest art galleries in the province. The visitors of the town usually use the houses for rent in Bulgaria to stay.
Transport
Bus and railway transport are the two types of transport connecting the town with the rest of the country. There are regular bus lines to Sofia, Lom, Vidin, Belogradchik, Pleven,Vratsa and to the smaller settlements. The bus station and the railway station are near to each other. Montana is transitional railway station on the line Boichinovtsi –Berkovitsa.
Surrounding Areas
South of the town are the remains of the old Rome fortress Kastra ad Montanezium. From this name comes the name of the town. Most of the findings, found there are in the Montana Historical Museum. Only at the distance of 22 km. west of the town is located the Loupushna monastery.
Yazovir Montana (Montana Dam) has been turned into a wonderful place for rest, sport, water tourism and fishing. Many holiday bases and establishments are built here and there is a regular bus transport. A wide net of houses for rent in Bulgaria is spread all around.
Ogosta river springs from Western Stara planina mountain. It flows into Danube river and its total water area is 3 157 c.km. There, at the river is erected the biggest dam in Bulgaria and at the Balkan peninsula. The dam is with total water area of 500 million c. m.
The Ogosta river is natural border of Montana and Kozlodui municipalities. Near to the river are located the Lopushanski and the Chiprovski monastery. The river comes from the high mountain parts of Stara planina mountain and passes through the small picturesque town of Chiprovtsi. The beautiful valley of the Ogosta river was inhabited from ancient Thracian tribes in the first millennium B.C.
The Historical Museum of Montana
History of the Museum
The attempts to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of Montana and the region start in the first decades of 20-th century. With a letter from september the 15-th, 1915, the director of the National museum in Sofia, notifies the mayor of Ferdinand for temporary suspension of the excavations in the sites “Kaleto” and “Izvora”. This is crucial for the exploration of the relics found in the uncovered Roman sanctuary. The collected “archeological antiques” are stored in the Archeological museum – Sofia.
In 1937 an archeological union “Montanesium” is founded by the local intelligence, with a purpose to find and store all archeological antiques, monuments and objects with historical value in the town and fit out a museum for them. Unfortunately the Ferdinand’s municipal authorities were unable to provide funds for that initiative and valuable historical monuments start moving to the National museum in Sofia. The houses for rent in Bulgaria offer a pleasant stay of the visitors of the museum.
The historical museum in Montana is founded in 1953. Two years later the house – museum “Christo Michailov” is founded in the memory of the revolutionist – patron of the town by that time. For nearly five decades a tremendous amount of work is done for collecting, scientific research and making popular the historical evidences. From 1968 to 1994 continuous archeological excavations are carried out. The researches do not only provide new evidences for the development of the town through the Roman age, but they also report for settlers life in the present town’s area from the stone-copper age to the end of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in 14-th century.
Researches of the material and the spiritual life on the territory of Montana are carried out through the years. These days the museum has rich collections of movable cultural monuments. The following departments have been formed: “Archeology”; “Ethnography”; “History of Bulgaria XV – XIX century”; “Modern History”; “Latest History”; “Funds”; “Public relations and advertising” and “Immovable historical monuments”.
The efforts of the experts are directed towards studying the prehistoric, ancient and the Middle ages of the region, the economic and demographic processes during 18-th and 19-th century, the political and culture life in the recent times. The workers in the museum also offer the services of the companies that deal with houses for rent in Bulgaria.
The museum owns a workshop for restoring and preserving of antiques, which serves the museum collections of the entire region. There are 621 registered immovable historical monuments of national and local value, which are subject of continuous maintenance.
For its 50 years of existence the museum turned to be an important institution in the town of Montana and the whole region.
Wealth of the Collections
The museum owns more than 50 000 pieces of cultural valuables made of wood, stone, metal, ceramics, glass, precious stones, cloths, also lots of photos and documents.
Archeology
The department is concerned with the museum exponents from the period from V – IV millennium B.C. to the end of the independent political and religious life of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in 14-th century. Through them you can trace the development of the material and spiritual culture and the historical processes taking place in a certain historical moment in the community of the region of today’s Montana.
Collections:
A very rich collection of prehistoric tools made of flint, stone and bones – flint promenades, knives, blades for sickles and arrows, stone hammers and axes, mattocks and awls from stag horns;
Collections of zoomorphic and anthropomorphic religious plastic arts made of clay and bones;
A rich collection of Thracian pottery – for religious and everyday necessities, including almost the whole known variety of forms and vessels decoration;
Collection of Thracian battle equipment from the end of the late Iron Age;
The Yakimovo Treasure – four bowls, two appliques for a bowl, two bracelets with ends formed like snake heads, cantharis – made of solid silver with gilded ornaments;
Collection of Roman ceramics, glass and bronze vessels for religious and everyday necessities;
Rich collection of Roman coins – bronze, silver and golden;
Representative for the local jeweller tradition collection of medieval silver and gilded ornaments and decorations – 12-th – 14-th century;
A big collective find of medieval copper coins (skipheus*) of the emperors Manuel I Comnenus (1143-1180), Andronicus I Comnenus (1183-1185), Isaak II Angelus (1185-1195), Alexius III Angelus - Comnenus (1195-1203), as well as Bulgarian imitative coin striking.
* skipheus – a cup-shaped coin first used in Byzantium. The clients of the houses for rent in Bulgaria are quite intrigued of the ancient history of Montana.
Bulgarian History XV – XIX century
More than 10 000 exponents, connected to the material, political and spiritual life of the people from the northwest Bulgarian lands during the time of the Ottoman rule and the Bulgarian renaissance are preserved here.
Of particular interest are the collections of old printed books, icons and church plates, in which the aspiration of the local Bulgarians for knowledge and artistic achievements have found an expression. The authors could be either anonymous, distinctive masters or famous artists with a great contribution to our national culture.
Ethnography
The department preserves objects from the material and spiritual culture of the people from Montana and the region, dating from 18-th to the first half of 20-th century. They are separated in rich collections with the following accents: The Chiprovtsi goldsmith school; The Chiprovtsi carpet-makers school; Berkovitsa pottery; Traditional garment and cloths.
Modern History
The department preserves cultural valuables from the period from the end of 19-th to the middle of 20-th century. The rich photographic and documental material presents the life in the town and the region of those days. The most interesting collections are: Coins and bank-notes from the Third Bulgarian Kingdom; Post cards; Charters and medals; Weapon – shotguns, bayonets and revolvers used by the Bulgarian army prior to World War the second.
Latest History
The department preserves: Samples and catalogues from the industrial production in Montana region; Photos, displaying the latest history of the town and the region; Charters, medals and distinctive signs of the Peoples Republic of Bulgaria (1946 – 1990); Documents and other matterial, connected with the activities of the actor Stefan Savov, the opera singer Siika Petrova and Yordanka Blagoeva – world and european champion in high jump. There are also photos, personal belongings and documents, donated by the families of Christo and Ivan Michailov. The tourists and the guests of the museum never miss the chance to buy souvenirs from it; they also love to stay in the houses for rent in Bulgaria.
The Michailov’s House
The Michailov’s House is the only restored and preserved Renaissance house in Montana. From the end of the 19-th century to the middle of the 20-th century the family of Father Michail Variklechkov, a priest in the local church, lives in the house.
Nowadays you can visit ethnographical exhibition “In the World of Grandma and Grandpa” in the house, which has more than 350 exponents of the traditional village and small town life from the end of the 18-th to the beginning of the 20-th century. Among the most interesting are the samples from the Chiprovtsi goldsmith and carpet-makers school, the ceramics and pottery from Berkovitsa, the cloth and garment pieces showing the Bulgarian woman’s sense for beauty. You can follow the development of the garment, furniture and overall upholster in the houses of the rich urban families from the end of 19-th to the beginning of 20-th century, under the influence of the modern trends of Western Europe.
Lapidarium*
The archeological exposition Lapidarium of epigraphic monuments from the Roman age is situated in the region of the ancient town Montana on 700 sq. meters in the park area of the Priest Garden. Nearby is the museum - memorial place “Michailov’s House” and the Orthodox temple “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”.
The massive space composition includes 56 monuments found in Montana. The scripts in the marble are the only written evidences, known so far, of this municipal Roman town, as a new cultural event in our lands. They contain exceptionally important cultural and historical matter about Montana during II – III century A.D., information about the cherished in the ancient sanctuary cults of Diana – “The goddess, protector of Montana”, of Apolneus, Esculapus, Higia, Latona, Silvanus and other divine personalities, of ordinary visitors and the above mentioned military forces, of honor to the ruling emperor, governors of province Dolna Mizia and other military and civil authorities.
The epigraphic monuments have undoubtedly important cultural and historical scientific value. These ancient signs are a symbol of our belonging to the roots of the European civilization in the new millennium of the mankind. They impress quite a lot the visitors who also turn to the comfort of the houses for rent in Bulgaria.
*Lapidarium (lat. Lapidarium) – a place, where stones of archeological value are arranged.
Ancient Fortress
The ancient fortress is situated on the hill “Kaleto” or “Gradishteto” in the southwest from Montana, at about 40 m. elevations above city level. As a result of archeological excavations, a city gate and a big tower have been uncovered – a brilliant example of III – IV century fortress construction. Few more military and civil buildings have been uncovered too, basilica and masonry from the Roman empire, buildings from the stone – copper age in the lowest cultural layers, as well as Slavic dwellings and a sanctuary.
The first settlement at this strategic and easy to protect elevation, with its rich water spring, is from the stone – copper age (IV millennium B.C.). It is a Thracian village, which has been fortified by a massive wall (with preserved thickness of more than 1 meter), following the outline of the area and dating back to the end of the early Iron Age.
The significance of the hill has been appreciated by the Roman authority. The fortifications have probably been built with the very beginning of the Roman occupation (The First Sugambrian cohort, which took part in the Thracian uprising suppress from 26 A.D.). A village starts growing around the military camp (first mentioned in an epigraphic document from 134 A.D.), and the ancient sanctuary near the water spring. In 160 – 161 the village is given municipal right – i.e. a statute of a town with surrounding territory. The name of the town – Montana has been saved in a manuscript from the II century. It’s been exposed to the visitors of the museum who are also inhabitants of the houses for rent in Bulgaria.
The economic and cultural advance of Montana from the II – IV century has been interrupted in the middle of the III century by the Gothic invasions. At the threat of new barbarian invasions, building of a fortress has been started. When this invasion has become more frequent in the IV or V century, a second fortress wall has been built to the south and east. The fortress is destroyed in VI – VII century in one of the Avarian or Slav raids. A Slavic village has been built lately over the ruins.
Berkovitsa
Province (oblast): Montana
Population: 16,928 (15.12.2004)
Altitude: 371 m
Geographic coordinates: 43° 14' north, 23° 7' east
Time zone: EET; (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer)
Mayor: Milcho Dotsov
Berkovitsa (Bulgarian Берковица) is a town in Northwestern Bulgaria. It is located in Montana oblast and is close to the town of Varshets. Berkovitsa is situated on the northern slope of the Berkovska Stara Planina Mountain along the valley of the Berkovitsa River, which is a tributary to the Barzia River, at an altitude above sea level 405 m. The town was mentioned for the first time in Ottoman documents of 1491. It is the successor of an old fortified settlement on the way from Sofia to Lom.
The remains of a fortress and a church were discovered at the Kaleto elevation west of the town. The settlement was known as early as the reign of King Kaloyan, and was mentioned as a border settlement in the period of the Vidin Kingdom. There are lots of historic remains around the town and they are an object of interest by many foreign tourists who can be accommodated in the houses for rent in Bulgaria.
Lom
Province (oblast): Montana
Population: 29 981 (13.09.2005)
Altitude: 20 m
Geographic coordinates: 43° 49' north, 23° 14' east
Time zone: EET; (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer)
Mayor: Penka Penkova
Lom (Лом) is a town in northern Bulgaria, part of Montana Province, situated on the right bank of the Danube, close to the estuary of the Lom River. It is 162 km north of Sofia, 56 km southeast of Vidin, 49 km north of Montana and 42 km west of Kozloduy. It is the second most important Bulgarian port on the Danube after Rousse. A well developed chain of houses for rent in Bulgaria is built along the river bank.
History
Antiquity and Dark Ages
Lom was founded by the Thracians under the name of Artanes in Antiquity. After them the Romans called the fortress and the town Almus, from where the name of the today's town and of the Lom River comes.
There are no reports proving that there existed a big settlement in the Middle Ages. It was not until Ottoman rule that it enlarged but for a long time it was under the shadow of the dominant towns of Vidin, Nikopol and Silistra. It is assumed that the Ottoman village was founded in 1695 by Kara Mustafa and Murad Bey, who were defeated at Vienna in 1683 and who came here sailing rafts along the Danube.
Ottoman rule and Bulgarian National Revival
The name Lom Palanka was mentioned for a first time in 1704. The settlement then called "palanka" was something between a village and a town in size and importance. In 1798 Lom suffered from brigand raids. With the development of shipping along the Danube after 1830, the importance of the town grew. The road to Sofia contributed to its progress and turned it into a main export port to Vienna (Austria). By 1869 there were 120 shops, 148 trade offices, 175 food shops, 34 coffee bars, 6 hotels and 2 mills. The town was centred on the old Kale (fortress), which was entered through three kapii (gates) — Vidinska, Belogradchishka, Sofiyska. The tradesmen from Lom offered goods at the biggest fairs in the region and beyond. In 1880 there were 7,500 inhabitants in the town.
Lom is proud of its traditions from the period of the Bulgarian National Revival. In 1856 the first community centre in Bulgaria was founded in the town, the first women's society in the country was elso established in 1858 and one of the first theatre performances took place in the town. Krastyu Pishurka, a noted educator, also worked in Lom.
Landmarks
Town Museum of History, housed in the building of the old town-hall.
Preserved foundations of the antique fortress Almus
Postoyanstvo, the oldest community centre in Bulgaria
Building of the former School of Pedagogy
Borunska Church
Monument of Tseko Voivoda (1807-1881), a participant in the battles for liberation of Serbia and pronounced by the Serbian government to be a voyvoda (revolutionary leader)
About the Historical Museum
Two of the halls of the Historical Museum – Lom are devoted to the icon art painting, church plate and old – printed matter books. The icons are very beautiful and were made by the masters from Debar, Tryavna, Bansko and Samokov art schools. There are over 400 works of local and Bulgarian artists at the Historical Museum of Lom.
In 1992 in the Revival house of Dim. Gigin was established an ethnographic exposition with typical for the Lom region villages clothes and customs. There were exposed and documents, photos and objects since 1878 – 1940.
Nowadays there are over 30 000 exponents in the museum. Biggest part of them is exposed in the two – storey building, cultural monument, which was erected at the end of the 19 th century. The last exposition finished in 2001 shows the biggest economical and cultural upsurge of the town. Due to the museum guestbook the foreign visitors who usually use houses for rent in Bulgaria are very impressed by the exposition.
Chiprovtsi
Province (oblast): Montana
Population: 2458 (13.09.2005)
Altitude: 478 m
Geographic coordinates: 43° 23' north, 22° 53' east
Time zone: EET; (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer)
Mayor: Ivan Pavlov
Chiprovtsi (Чипровци) is a town in Montana Province of northwestern Bulgaria, about 30 km from Montana, on the shores of the river Ogosta at the foot of western Balkan Mountains.
History
Antiquity and Dark Ages
An ore-miner settlement existed on the present location of Chiprovtsi since Thracian times. It was then populated by the Slavs, who named it Kiprovets. In the 13th century, the town received special privileges, as it was settled by Saxon ore-miners, who later accepted the Bulgarian language, but preserved the strong position of Roman Catholicism in the town thanks to Franciscan monks. Due to this influence, Chiprovtsi grew into a centre of Catholicism in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
Ottoman rule
On the ground of ore-mining, handicrafts and trade blossomed in Chiprovtsi, wares were exported to Central and Eastern Europe. The economic heyday attracted Bulgarian noblemen from the whole country, leading to a revival of culture and religion. The modern town reached the peak of its cultural, economic and political development during the first three centuries of Ottoman rule in Bulgaria, becoming the most significant centre of goldsmith's trade in the Balkans.
A secular school was built in the beginning of the 17th century, where Bulgarian and Latin were taught. The population of Chiprovtsi was half Catholic, half Eastern Orthodox by the time. Sons of the town's distinguished families, such as Petar Parchevich and Petar Bogdan Bakshev, studied theology in Italy, issuing books and becoming a part of European
The Chiprovtsi Uprising
In 1688, after heavy casualties were caused to the Ottoman armies by the coalition of Austrian, Polish and Venetian forces, Bulgarians from Chiprovtsi initiated the Chiprovtsi Uprising against Ottoman rule, which failed due to lack of assistance by the coalition, and was brutally crushed by janissary troops, who burned numerous villages in the area to the ground, forcing people from the whole region to flee to neighbouring countries, some of them setting up a Bulgarian community in the Banat, the Banat Bulgarians. The brave past of Chiprovtsi attract travelers who can be accommodated in the houses for rent in Bulgaria in the town.
Valchedram
Valchidram is settled in the Northeast part of the Montana district. The town is regional municipal center. Valchedram is located in the West Danubian plain, in the fertile place of “Zlatia”, along the two banks of the Tsabrica and Danube rivers. The municipality occupies a territory from 426 000 dka, and includes the remarkable natural reserve of “Ibisha”. The town is situated at 40 km. northeast of Montana, at 27 km. southwest of Kozlodui and at 23 km. southeast of Lom.
History
The settlement has rich history. There are a lot of archeological monuments from the Thracian and Roman times. Here was born Puncho priest. He found the first school in the town in 1780. The town of Valchidram is the birthplace of Dimitar Marinov – a prominent local ethnograph and historic. Very interesting is the temple “St. Paraskeva”. Accept its impressive architecture; it is famous for its big iconostasis. If you visit the town exhibition, you can enjoy to the opulent history of the town.
Natural Characteristics
The town of Valchidram has very clean environment. Systemic control about the environment is made in the town of Kozlodui. Through the town passes the Tsibritsa River. Its waters are very clean. The virgin landscape is suitable for vacation that the tourists can spent in houses for rent in Bulgaria.
The region of the Valchedram has an opulent variety of birds. There are more than 100 species of birds. The biggest part of them is here through the whole year, but there are some that just pass. In the surrounding areas of the town is located the “Ibisha” reserve – it represents an island in the Danube river, near to the village of Dolni Tsibar.
