Montana Province: Reservoirs, Museums and Mountain Trails

Recreation, water sports and fishing are among the activities available at the Montana Reservoir in Montana Province. The region lies in northwestern Bulgaria, borders Serbia and Romania, and covers around 3,635 km²; Montana is its administrative centre. Travel interests are also spread across different locations: Chiprovtsi offers insights into carpet and museum culture, Varshets is known for its mineral springs, and the Kom area has alpine and cross-country ski runs. Plan your trip around the interests you want to pursue.

Rivers, reservoirs and getting around

The main rivers in the province include the Ogosta, Tsibritsa and Lom. The Ogosta and Srechenka Bara reservoirs are also part of the regional waterscape, along with around 50 locally significant micro-reservoirs. The Ogosta Reservoir is considered Bulgaria’s largest earth-fill dam and one of the largest reservoirs of this type in the Balkans. It has a capacity of 500 million cubic metres.

The Montana Reservoir is used for recreation, sports, water tourism and fishing. There are recreation bases and facilities in the surrounding area, and regular bus services also run there. Check details of facilities and connections before your trip if they are important to your plans.

For road travel, TINA Corridors 4 and 7, which cross the province, are relevant. Road II-81 runs over the Petrohan Pass and is described as the shortest route from Vidin to Sofia; it also serves the port of Lom. For planning a specific journey, check the current route and road conditions.

Museums and cultural history

Montana

The Regional Historical Museum in Montana preserves more than 60,000 movable cultural artefacts dating from the Eneolithic period to the first decades of the 21st century. Its collections include Roman inscribed monuments, a copy of the Yakimovo Treasure, a local treasure find from the 14th century, icons, Chiprovtsi carpets and weapons-related collections. The exhibitions are spread across three main buildings. The museum also offers guided tours of the ancient and medieval Kaleto Fortress; ask about this option before your visit.

Other places to visit in the city include the Kiril Petrov Art Gallery, the drama theatre, the architectural lapidarium complex, the historic Kale Bair area and Ashiklar Eco. The Mikhailova House showcases typical urban and rural life in the region. Alongside archaeological and artistic collections, the region’s ways of life are also in focus.

Chiprovtsi

The Historical Museum in Chiprovtsi covers the town’s spiritual and cultural development in the 17th century, the 1688 uprising, local carpets, church art and regional archaeology. Katerinina House is part of the museum complex and presents an ethnographic collection on the life and culture of the Torlak. The Monastery of St. Ivan of Rila in Chiprovtsi dates from the 10th century, served as a literary centre in the Middle Ages and was burned down repeatedly during the Bulgarian National Revival.

Chiprovtsi Municipality lies at the foot of the Chiprovtsi Mountains, described as the highest section of the western Stara Planina. The town itself is also hilly and semi-mountainous. The protected Chiprovtsi Waterfall is 18 metres high and can be reached via the Deyanitsa eco-trail in about one to two hours. Trail conditions and water flow can vary by season. The Tourist Information Centre in Chiprovtsi provides information about attractions in the town and region, nearby settlements, activities and current events. Check in advance whether the centre is open if you plan to use it.

Lom

The Historical Museum in Lom has departments dedicated to archaeology, medieval and modern history, ethnography and art. Exhibition topics include local ceramics and Roman architecture, the Thracian and Roman periods, theatre and temporary exhibitions.

The ancient city of Almus is located in Lom on the Danube. It is a cultural monument of national significance, is still being studied archaeologically and is on the UNESCO Tentative List as part of the Lower Danube Limes. The nearby Dobri Dol Monastery of the Holy Trinity is noted for its picturesque setting and unusual church architecture from the Bulgarian National Revival.

Mineral springs and parks in Varshets

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Tourism describes Varshets as the country’s first balneological resort. Warm mineral springs contribute to its focus on balneology, spa and health tourism. Seek professional advice if you want to assess possible medical suitability.

An artificial park covering 800 decares is described as Bulgaria’s second-largest after Borisova Garden. It connects to the Sunny Garden, laid out in 1934, whose paths radiate like the rays of the sun. The Historical Museum of Varshets has sections on antiquity, archaeology and coins, balneology, and ethnography; exhibits include Thracian and Roman finds, as well as a bronze sculpture of Telesphoros.

The Tourist Information Centre in Varshets provides information on accommodation, food, sports, balneology, tourism and entertainment. It also offers rentals of bicycles, tents and fishing rods, as well as mountain guides. Check the availability of individual services before your trip.

Waterfalls and outdoor activities

The protected Haydushki Waterfalls site is about eight kilometres west of Berkovitsa. The route from the town is approximately five kilometres, and the site is visited year-round. Access routes and conditions can vary. Other places to visit in Berkovitsa include the Vazov House Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Church of St. Nicholas, the 1762 Clock Tower and Kaleto Fortress.

The Kom area has alpine and cross-country ski runs, as well as opportunities for cycling, hang gliding and paragliding. It also provides access to routes such as Kom–Emine and the international E-3 trail. If you plan outdoor activities there, check trail conditions and the status of the relevant infrastructure in advance.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Georgi Damyanovo, Valchedram, Chiprovtsi, Montana, Lom, Varshets, Boychinovtsi, Berkovitsa, Bukovets, Lom, Varshets, Montana, Chiprovtsi.

For the overview of the wider region: Bulgaria.