Montana:
Bulgaria
| Copyright 2007 |
Montana is a city found in the north of Bulgaria about fifty kilometres south of the border and the
Danube river. The city of Montana is found in the province also called Montana and has a
population of fifty five thousand inhabitants (est. 2005).
The city of Montana is twinned with four different cities from across Europe, these cities are
Banska Bystrica in Slovenia, Schmalkalden in Germany, Pirot in Serbia and Zhytomyr in the
Ukraine.
Danube river. The city of Montana is found in the province also called Montana and has a
population of fifty five thousand inhabitants (est. 2005).
The city of Montana is twinned with four different cities from across Europe, these cities are
Banska Bystrica in Slovenia, Schmalkalden in Germany, Pirot in Serbia and Zhytomyr in the
Ukraine.
It is believed Montana was once an old Thracian settlement, but unlike other citites such as
Plovdiv or Varna that were built on Thracian history, Montana is actually the product of a Roman
military camp that was set up in the second century.
Under Roman rule the military camp slowly became urbanised and was given the authority of
being a city under the name Municipio Montanensium. This name did not last long as the
feared Attila the Hun and many others came and wreaked havoc across Bulgaria, but it was the
Slavs that settled in Montana and renamed it Kutlovitsa.
Plovdiv or Varna that were built on Thracian history, Montana is actually the product of a Roman
military camp that was set up in the second century.
Under Roman rule the military camp slowly became urbanised and was given the authority of
being a city under the name Municipio Montanensium. This name did not last long as the
feared Attila the Hun and many others came and wreaked havoc across Bulgaria, but it was the
Slavs that settled in Montana and renamed it Kutlovitsa.
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When Ottoman rule came to Bulgaria, Montana (Kutlovitsa) was destroyed and became a
ghost town that was uninhabited for many years until groups of Turkish people moved in to the
area due to its ideal location. Over time the city became a vibrant place under Turkish rule with
Turkish baths and mosques aplenty.
Not long after Bulgaria was liberated from the Ottoman Empire the city was renamed again to
Ferdinand after the Tsar of this period who helped the liberation of the Motherland.
Over time Bulgaria lost its independence falling under the rule of the Soviet Union, and the city
was renamed another time to Hristo Mihaylov after a famous red army activist, but this name
only lasted a year before Montana was called Mihaylovgrad (this means Mihaylov town).
When Bulgaria finally became independant again after moving away from the Soviet Union in
the late 1980's the President of Bulgaria chose to rename the city Montana after its ancient
Roman name.
ghost town that was uninhabited for many years until groups of Turkish people moved in to the
area due to its ideal location. Over time the city became a vibrant place under Turkish rule with
Turkish baths and mosques aplenty.
Not long after Bulgaria was liberated from the Ottoman Empire the city was renamed again to
Ferdinand after the Tsar of this period who helped the liberation of the Motherland.
Over time Bulgaria lost its independence falling under the rule of the Soviet Union, and the city
was renamed another time to Hristo Mihaylov after a famous red army activist, but this name
only lasted a year before Montana was called Mihaylovgrad (this means Mihaylov town).
When Bulgaria finally became independant again after moving away from the Soviet Union in
the late 1980's the President of Bulgaria chose to rename the city Montana after its ancient
Roman name.
