The Montana province is where the mountains are rugged and the traditions are strong. Your journey starts in the town of Chiprovtsi which is world famous for its handmade carpets. You can visit the local museum to see these colorful rugs that have been made with the same patterns for over three centuries. Every design has a meaning and the colors are made from natural plants found in the nearby hills. It is a beautiful craft that represents the spirit of the people who live in these high valleys.
Drive to the Lopushna Monastery to see a peaceful holy site with a unique white stone facade. The monastery is tucked away in a green valley and features a quiet courtyard and beautiful old frescoes. You can walk through the gardens and taste the cool water from the mountain spring. It is a much quieter spot than the big famous monasteries and offers a true sense of peace. The road to the monastery passes through small villages where time seems to have stood still.
The trip continues to the city of Montana where you can see the ruins of the ancient Roman fortress Castra ad Montanesium. The fortress sits on a hill overlooking the modern city and the large Ogosta reservoir. You can walk along the old walls and look out over the water where people go fishing and boating in the summer. The reservoir is one of the largest in the country and is a great place to park the car and enjoy a picnic. This province is a hidden gem for those who want to find the authentic soul of the northwest.
Montana (province) highlights
- Chiprovtsi Waterfall hides at the end of a green trail in the quiet mountains near the western border. Hear the water hit the rocks in the deep woods as you walk along a small and clear stream. Enjoy a peaceful spot where the air is cool and the forest stays green throughout the summer.
- Lopushna Monastery offers a quiet white stone church with a peaceful courtyard and a natural spring. Visit this site to find a true sense of mountain calm away from the busy tourist routes. See the old icons and enjoy the silence of a valley where the mountains meet the sky.
- Ogosta Reservoir ranks as one of the largest lakes in the land where you can go fishing or boating. Drive along the shore to find many spots for a picnic with a wide view of the blue water. Watch the mountains in the distance and enjoy a summer break in the quiet northwestern land.
- Chiprovtsi Museum shows how the world famous carpets are made by hand using traditional methods and looms. See the colorful patterns and learn about the local women who have kept this art alive for years. Visit this place to see traditions that are hundreds of years old and still very strong.
- Kom Peak marks the high mountain ridge where the longest hiking trail in the entire land begins. Drive to the base through scenic villages to find the path that leads up to the high peaks. Hike to the top for a view that reaches across the border and into the neighboring country.
- Klisura Monastery provides a large and beautiful site with a small river and many colorful flower gardens. Listen to the tall bells ring through the valley while walking through the quiet and peaceful grounds. Stop here to enjoy the fresh mountain air and the spirit of the northwestern mountains.
- Montana Fortress reveals Roman ruins on a hill overlooking the water and the modern city streets below. Walk the old walls to see the remains of temples and the public baths from the ancient city. Learn how this place has been a crossroads for people for many thousands of years.
- Vartop Pass winds through the mountains with views of the rugged peaks and the deep beech forest. Drive this quiet route to see the wild side of the west where there is very little traffic. Enjoy the fresh air and the wide views that change behind every turn of the mountain road.
- Petrohan Pass snakes through the high forests and mountain meadows on a classic driving route to the north. Stop for local yogurt and honey sold by the side of the road by the people of the hills. View the wide valley from the high points of the road during a scenic mountain trip.
- Mramoren Village offers a quiet spot near the river where you can see rural life and old houses. Visit this hidden gem to see the real northern countryside away from the main tourist paths. Walk by the water and enjoy the simple beauty of a place where time moves slowly.
The local Four
History of Montana (province)
Montana is the gateway to the Wild Northwest. In Roman times, it was the center of the Province of Dacia Inferior, and the fort of Castra ad Montanesium was established to protect the gold mines in the Balkan Mountains. This military history is still visible in the city ruins and the stone walls that have guarded the mountain passes for two millennia. The region was a vital link between the Danube and the fertile interior of the Balkans.
In the 17th century, the mountain town of Chiprovtsi became a global hub for silver craftsmanship and the center of the Chiprovtsi Uprising of 1688 one of the earliest organized attempts to overthrow Ottoman rule. The village is known for its carpet weaving tradition, where women use ancient looms to create complex, geometric designs that carry the symbolic history of the local clans.
A road trip through Montana takes you to the Lopushna Monastery, with its elegant white stone church, and the Ogosta Reservoir, one of the largest in the Balkans. The province is characterized by the rugged Kom Peak, the starting point of the longest mountain trail in the country. It is a land of hidden waterfalls and deep beech forests, where the history of Roman legionnaires and revolutionary weavers still resonates in the quiet valleys.