Destinations Menu
RSS
SPAIN | León, Spain Travel Guide
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
León, Spain
The Cathedral of León, Spain (cc)
Photo: Pastranec
León Travel Guide
Introduction
León is a proud and supremely ancient city in northwestern Spain, dating from the 1st century BC. It is centered around a fabulous, 13th-century Gothic cathedral that is seemingly more glass than stone – at least to the naked eye. It features no fewer than 186 glass windows, 125 of them with stained glass, 57 circular ones, and four enormous rose windows, including one that measures 26 feet (8 meters) in diameter. The cathedral fairly sparkles in the bright sunlight, with all but the brilliance of a kaleidoscope. And as such, in all of Spain, it is second only to the Burgos cathedral in its splendor.
The Castilla y León Destinations of Spain
León Highlights
Main Sights and Attractions
Among other glories of León, apart from its Gothic cathedral, are a Neo-Gothic, early creation of Antoni Gaudi, the Casa de Botines, and the 12th-century Basilica of San Isidro which is a superb example of Early Romanesque Spanish architecture, with a lovely fresco-adorned interior. A couple of other old churches and palaces add to the interest, as does MUSAC, León's Contemporary Art Museum, housed in a landmark avant-garde building draped in multicolored panels.
Party Scene
Leon's party and drinking neighborhood is Barrio Húmedo, where the tapas are always free. Truly.
León Basics
Location
León is situated on the banks of the river Bernesga, in the Castilla y León region. It is 91 miles (144 km) south of Gijón, or 114 miles (184 km) west of Burgos.
Population
León has a population of 134,000.
© Indian Chief Travel Guides
Explore the Destination
Amenities and Resources
Overview
Hotels(5)
Restaurants(10)
Attractions(8)
Activities(4)
Map 
Weather Forecast
- Reported on:
Wed, 12/18/2024 - 01:00
- Reported on:
Trending Themes:
Guides to Popular Ski Resorts
-
Ischgl is a small mountain village turned hip ski resort, with massive appeal among the party-hearty young crowds. It is... Read More
-
Andorra la Vella is its own little world, and not just because it’s a 290-square-mile independent principality (a fifth the... Read More
-
Bariloche (officially San Carlos de Bariloche) is the place to be seen. It is to Argentina what Aspen is to the... Read More
-
Aspen is America's most famous ski resort. And that's an understatement. For, as a ski complex, Aspen is unsurpassed. Its... Read More
-
Zermatt is a small but glamorous mountain resort town, with a population of approximately 5,700. It is one of Switzerland's... Read More
-
St. Moritz is a glitzy, alpine resort town in the celebrated Engadin Valley of Switzerland, with huge notoriety as the... Read More
-
Lake Tahoe is the premier lake resort of America, and the largest alpine lake in all of North America. It is an absolutely... Read More
-
St. Anton, Sankt Anton am Arlberg in German, is Austria's premier ski-bum resort! It's actually a small village cum... Read More
-
Kitzbühel, a small, Tyrolian resort town in the Kitzbüheler Alps, comes with international renown and huge snob appeal, and... Read More