Montana (Монтана) Fortress

The settlement of Kaleto Hill dates back to the Copper Age. Later, the Thracians of the Triballi tribe built a first fortress, whose stone walls, over a meter wide, are still visible today. At the end of the 1st century BC, the Romans took over the site. Under Roman rule, Montana developed into an urban center of the province of Lower Moesia, with a military presence and a road network. In the 3rd century AD, the fortress “Kastra ad Montanesium” was rebuilt on the Thracian foundations to withstand Gothic attacks. It included barracks, a basilica, and walls. Near the fortress was a Roman sanctuary dedicated to Diana and Apollo. In the 4th century, the villa settlement around the sanctuary was destroyed during a Gothic raid. The Roman city and fortress fell to an invasion by Avars and Slavs at the end of the 6th century. The Slavs founded a new settlement called Kutlovitsa on the ruins and used a Roman barracks building as a pagan sanctuary, which existed until the introduction of Christianity in the 9th century.

The Montana Fortress is located on Kaleto Hill in the city of Montana, in the district of Montana, in the region of Montana, Bulgaria, at an altitude of approx. 187 m above sea level.

Today, the remains of the fortress are partially restored and accessible to visitors.