Castra ad Montanesium

Castra ad Montanesium is a ruined Roman fortress in the town of Montana, Bulgaria [1]. It was built as the town grew to greater importance as a Roman settlement [1]. The site is located in the southwest part of Montana on Kaleto Hill [1]. The fortress was constructed in the first century AD to give a defensive buff to the Roman town of Montanesium [1]. During the reign of Constantine the Great (306-337) an early Christian basilica was constructed adjacent to the complex [1]. Later raids by the Slavs and Avars between 500 and 560 resulted in the destruction of the fortress down to its foundations, along with most of Montanesium [1].