Montana, Bulgaria

🇧🇬 Montana is a town in North-western Bulgaria, located 50 km (31 miles) south of the Danube river, 40 km (25 miles) north-west of Vratsa and 30 km (19 miles) east of the Serbian border. It is the administrative centre of Montana Province.

Geography Montana is situated on the river Ogosta, north of Stara Planina, surrounded on the south and east by uplands.

Population The number of the residents of the town reached its peak in the period 1988-1991.

According to the latest 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows: • Bulgarians: (91.8%) • Roma: (7.3%) • Turks: %) • Others: 166 (0.4%) • Indefinable: (0.4%) • Undeclared: (4.8%); There is a large concentration of Roma within the town and in the municipality.

Education The town hosts about a dozen high schools, two of the most notable are: • Math and Science HS "St. Kliment Ohridski". Enhanced studies in math, biology, geography and foreign languages. Excellent development of talents and outstanding student performance. http://www.pmgmontana.com/pmgsite/ • Foreign Language HS "Petar Bogdan". Emphasis on English and German language proficiency. Recognized and praised for its scholars' academic accomplishments worldwide. http://gpchemont.com/sitegpche/

History The region around Montana became part of the Roman province of Upper Moesia in 29 BC. Around 160 AD, a military camp that was most likely founded on the remains of an older Thracian settlement acquired city rights under the name of Civitas Montanensium. The town developed and urbanized after a Roman model and became the second most important settlement in the province after Raciaria (near modern-day Archar). The fortress of Castra ad Montanesium was built atop the hill overlooking Montana, as well as public and residential buildings, temples, baths and theatres. Montana became a typical imperial settlement, where the local romanized population coexisted alongside Italic and Anatolian settlers. The base of the town's economy was the big landowners of Italic origin and their villas and mansions, while the locals served to work in agricultural production and gold mining in the Ogosta river valley. A community of Greek settlers engaged in craftsmanship and money-lending lived in the town during the period. The patrons of Montana, in the spirit of Hellenism, were Diana and Apollo.

History: Middle Ages Between 440 and 490, the north-west of modern Bulgaria was devastated by the raids of the Huns, under Attila, and later by the Goths. Slavs and Avars delivered the final blow to Greco-Roman culture in the region. The Slavs who settled later 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 After Kutlovitsa was seized by the Ottomans, the settlement was destroyed and became deserted. It was renamed "Kutlofça" by the Ottomans, which was derived from Kutlovitsa. Between 1450 and 1688, the town was resettled by Turks because of its strategic location, and went through another period of blossoming as a typically Oriental town. A mosque, fountains, and other new buildings were erected. There was also a Roman Bath left over from the Middle Ages.

Modern history After the Liberation began a massive wave of migration towards Kutlovitsa and a period of economic blossoming. An electricity station, a railway station, a post office and a hospital were built, a fair and a community centre emerged. The football team, FC Montana, was founded in 1921 and currently plays in the Bulgarian First League.

Districts • Central • Mladost 1 and 2 - large residential district in the north-western part of the town composed of about 40, built in the 80's, blocks of flats. • Pliska • Pastrina • Mala Kutlovitsa - suburban district composed mainly of residential houses • Izgrev • Kosharnik - rundown neighbourhood on the outskirts of the town populated mainly with Roma Gypsies. • Ogosta • Zhivovtsi • Industrial Zone • Bodur Mahala (unofficial name) • Barcelon mahala (unofficial name).