[3] Montana is situated on the river Ogosta, north of Stara Planina, surrounded on the south and east by uplands.

The town hosts about a dozen high schools, two of the most notable are: The region around Montana became part of the Roman province of Upper Moesia in 29 BC.

Around 160 AD, a military camp that was most likely founded on the remains of an older Thracian settlement acquired city rights under the name of Civitas Montanensium.

[12] The town developed and urbanized after a Roman model and became the second most important settlement in the province after Raciaria (near modern-day Archar).

The fortress of Castra ad Montanesium was built atop the hill overlooking Montana, as well as public and residential buildings, temples, baths and theatres.

Montana became a typical imperial settlement, where the local Romanized population coexisted alongside Italic and Anatolian settlers.

The base of the town's economy was the big landowners of Italic origin and their villas and mansions, while the locals served to work in agricultural production and gold mining in the Ogosta river valley.