Montana, Bulgaria

Montana Монтана
Panoramic view of Montana
Seal
Montana Location of Montana, Bulgaria
Coordinates: 43°25′N 23°14′E / 43.417°N 23.233°E / 43.417; 23.233Coordinates: 43°25′N 23°14′E / 43.417°N 23.233°E / 43.417; 23.233
Country	Bulgaria
Province (Oblast)	Montana
Government
• Mayor	Zlatko Zhivkov
Elevation	135 m (443 ft)
Population (Census February 2011)[1]
• City	43,324
• Urban	53,247
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code	3400
Area code(s)	096

Montana central square

Main street in Montana

Montana (Bulgarian: Монтана) is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, located 50 km south of Danube river, 40 km northwest of Vratsa and 30 km east of the Serbian border. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Montana Province. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 43,324 inhabitants.^[1]

Names

When the town was first settled by Slavs it was known as Kutlovitsa; later in Ottoman Turkish as Kutlofça. The town was renamed 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 Mihaylov (died 1944), a leader of the 1923 September Uprising in the region. A year later the name was changed to Mihaylovgrad. In 1993, after a presidential decree, the town received the name Montana, inspired by the name of the nearby Roman settlement.^[2]

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.

Population

The number of the residents of the city reached its peak in the period 1988-1991 when exceeded 55,000 with a highest rate in 1991 numbering 57,142.^[3] The following table presents the change of the population after the World War II.

Elite High Schools

• 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/

Entertainment

• Drama Theater "Dragomit Asenov" located at 1 Zheravitza Sq, Montana, BG 3400
• Piano Bar "Retro" located at 59 Third Blvd, Montana, BG 3400
• Night Club "Black Label" located in the heart of downtown
• Outdoor Swimming Pool & Bar "Augusta" sitting atop a hill by lake "Ogosta"

Lodging

• Hotel "Ring" Newly build by international standards. Offers panoramic view of the city and its surroundings along with passionate customer service. http://www.ring-hotel.com/en/

History

Roman times

The 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 oldest part of town is the neighborhood at the foot of Montana mountain (hill). 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 base 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-landing 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 Attila 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

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 the Middle Ages.

Modern history

After the Liberation began a massive wave of migration towards Kutlovitsa and a period of economic blossoming. An electric station, a train station, a post office and a hospital were built, a fair and a community centre emerged. She has a football team, who named PFC Montana. PFC Montana was founded in 1921 and played in Bulgarian A Professional Football Group between 1994–1997 and 2009–present day.

Born in Montana

• Yordanka Blagoeva (1947-01-19) - World champion and record holder in high jump between September 24, 1972 and August 24, 1974
• Stiliyan Petrov (r. 1979) - Player in the national football team of Bulgaria and Aston Villa
• Yordan Radichkov-writer
• Stefan Savov (1896–1969) - playwright
• Nelly Rangelova (r. 1958) - Bulgarian pop-singer
• Dragomir Asenov (1926–1981) - playwright
• Rosalin Nakov (1965) - Composer
• Elen Koleva ( March 31, 1984) - actress
• Ognyan Nikolov-opera singer

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Montana is twinned with:

• Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
• Zhytomyr, Ukraine
• Schmalkalden, Germany
• Pirot, Serbia
• Salvatierra/Agurain, Spain
• Dzerzhinsky (town), Russia
• Kassel, Germany
• Surakarta, Indonesia.^[8]

Honour

Montana Bluff on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after the city of Montana.

Districts

• Central
• Mladost 1 and 2 - large residential district in the northwestern 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)

Gallery

• 

  Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius

• 

  The interior of Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius

• 

  Central bus station

• 

  Monument to the victims of the wars

• 

  The lapidarium

• 

  Montana Courthouse

• 

  Montana History Museum

• 

  Montana Art Gallery

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Montana, Bulgaria

• Official website
• Montana Dnes - News portal
• Montana District
• Historical museum in Montana

v t e Cities and towns of Bulgaria 1,000,000+ Sofia (capital) 300,000+ Plovdiv Varna 100,000+ Burgas Pleven Ruse Stara Zagora 50,000+ Asenovgrad Blagoevgrad Dobrich Gabrovo Haskovo Pazardzhik Pernik Sliven Shumen Veliko Tarnovo Vratsa Yambol 20,000+ Aytos Botevgrad Dimitrovgrad Dupnitsa Gorna Oryahovitsa Karlovo Kardzhali Kazanlak Kyustendil Lom Lovech Montana Nova Zagora Petrich Razgrad Samokov Sandanski Sevlievo Silistra Smolyan Svishtov Targovishte Troyan Velingrad Vidin 10,000+ Balchik Bankya Bansko Berkovitsa Byala, Rousse Province Byala Slatina Cherven Bryag Chirpan Elhovo Etropole Gotse Delchev Harmanli Ihtiman Isperih Karnobat Kavarna Knezha Kostinbrod Kozloduy Kubrat Levski Mezdra Momchilgrad Nesebar Novi Iskar Novi Pazar Panagyurishte Parvomay Pavlikeni Peshtera Pomorie Popovo Provadiya Radnevo Radomir Rakovski Razlog Stamboliyski Svilengrad Teteven 5,000+ Aksakovo Ardino Belene Belogradchik Beloslav Bobov Dol Chepelare Dalgopol Devin Devnya Dolni Chiflik Dragoman Dryanovo Dulovo Dzhebel Elena Elin Pelin Galabovo General Toshevo Hisarya Kameno Koynare Kostenets Kotel Krichim Krumovgrad Kuklen Lukovit Lyubimets Lyaskovets Madan Nedelino Omurtag Oryahovo Perushtitsa Pirdop Polski Trumbesh Rakitovo Saedinenie Septemvri Simeonovgrad Simitli Slivnitsa Sopot Sredets Straldzha Strazhitsa Suvorovo Svoge Tervel Topolovgrad Tryavna Tsarevo Tutrakan Tvarditsa Varshets Vetovo Veliki Preslav Yakoruda Zlatitsa Zlatograd Under 5,000 Ahtopol Alfatar Antonovo Apriltsi Balgarovo Batak Batanovtsi Belitsa Belovo Boboshevo Bolyarovo Borovo Boychinovtsi Bozhurishte Bratsigovo Bregovo Breznik Brusartsi Byala, Varna Province Byala Cherkva Chiprovtsi Debelets Dimovo Dobrinishte Dolna Banya Dolna Mitropoliya Dolna Oryahovitsa Dolni Dubnik Dospat Dunavtsi Dve Mogili Glavinitsa Glodzhevo Godech Gramada Gulyantsi Gurkovo Hadzhidimovo Iskar Ivaylovgrad Kableshkovo Kalofer Kaolinovo Kaspichan Kermen Kilifarevo Kiten Klisura Kocherinovo Koprivshtitsa Kostandovo Kresna Krivodol Kula Laki Letnitsa Loznitsa Madzharovo Maglizh Malko Turnovo Marten Melnik Merichleri Miziya Momin Prohod Nikolaevo Nikopol Obzor Opaka Pavel Banya Plachkovtsi Pliska Pordim Pravets Primorsko Rila Roman Rudozem Sadovo Sapareva Banya Sarnitsa Senovo Shabla Shipka Shivachevo Slavyanovo Slivo Pole Smyadovo Sozopol Strelcha Suhindol Sungurlare Sveti Vlas Tran Trastenik Tsar Kaloyan Ugarchin Vetren Valchedram Valchi Dol Varbitsa Yablanitsa Zavet Zemen Zlataritsa