León, Spain
Encyclopedia
León is the capital of the province of León in the autonomous community
of Castile and León
, situated in the northwest of Spain
. Its city population of 136,985 (2006) makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for more than one quarter of the province's population. Including the metropolitan area, the population is calculated at 337,740 (2009).
Founded as the Roman
military encampment of the Legio VI Victrix
around 29 B.C., its standing as an encampment city was consolidated with the definitive settlement of the Legio VII Gemina
from 74 A.D. Following its partial depopulation due to the Ummayad conquest of the peninsula, León received a fresh impulse as part of the Kingdom of Asturias
. 910 saw the beginning of one its most prominent historical periods, when it became the capital of the Kingdom of León
, which took active part in the Reconquista
against the Moors, and came to be one of the fundamental kingdoms of medieval Spain. In 1188, the city hosted the first Parliament
in European history under the reign of Alfonso IX
, due to which it was named in 2010, by the professor John Keane, the King of Spain
and the Junta of Castile and León, as the cradle of Parliamentarism. The city's prominence began to decline in the early Middle Ages, partly due to the loss of independence after the union of the Leonese kingdom to the Crown of Castile
, consolidated in 1301.
León sits along the banks of the river Bernesga and it's the last major city in the Camino de Santiago before it climbs west into the mountains that separate province of León from Galicia.
by the Roman legion
Legio VI Victrix
. In 68 AD Legio VII Gemina
created a permanent military camp, which was the origin of a later city. Its modern name is derived from the city's Latin
name Legio, which itself derives from the Roman legion
recruited from the Iberians
by Galba
. The legion established the site of the city to protect the territory from the Astures and Cantabrians, and to secure the transport of gold
extracted in the province, especially in Las Médulas
. Tacitus calls the legion Galbiana, to distinguish it from the old Legio VII Claudia
, but this appellation is not found on any inscriptions. It appears to have received the appellation of Gemina on account of its amalgamation by Vespasian
with one of the German legions, not improbably the Legio I Germanica
. Its full name was Legio VII Gemina Felix. After serving in Pannonia, and in the civil wars, it was settled by Vespasian in Hispania Tarraconensis, to supply the place of the Legio VI Victrix and Legio X Gemina
, two of the three legions ordinarily stationed in the province, but which had been withdrawn to Germany.
That its regular winter quarters, under later emperors, were at León, we learn from the Itinerary, Ptolemy, and the Notitiae Imperii, as well as from a few inscriptions; but there are numerous inscriptions to prove that a strong detachment of it was stationed at Tarraco (modern Tarragona
), the chief city of the province.
invaders, the same fortress, which the Romans had built to protect the plain from the incursions of the mountaineers, became the advanced post which covered the mountain, as the last refuge of Cisastur Tribes.
Towards the year 846, a group of Mozarabs (Christians
who did not flee from the Muslims and lived under the Muslim regime) tried to repopulate the city, but a Muslim attack prevented that initiative. In the year 856, under the Christian king Ordoño I, another attempt at repopulation was made and was successful. Alfonso III of León
and García I of León
made León city the capital of the Kingdom of León
and the most important of the Christian
cities in Iberia.
The Kingdom of León officially started as an independent Kingdom in 910, becoming an Empire who reached the Rhone river in the 12th century.
Sacked by Almanzor in about 987, the city was reconstructed and repopulated by Alfonso V
, whose Decree of 1017 regulated its economic life, including the functioning of its markets. León was a way-station for pilgrim
s on the Camino de Santiago leading to Santiago de Compostela
. With Alfonso V of León
the city had the "Fueru de Llión", an important letter of privileges.
The Kingdom of León
conquered the Leonese Extremadura, and was brought to their sisters by Fernando III, king of Castile, joining both crowns in 1230. His son, Alfonso X divided the kingdom again in his testament, but it was not accepted by the King of Castile, who rejoined both crowns. From 1296 to 1301 León was an independent kingdom again, and from then until 1833, when Spain was divided into regions and provinces, the Kingdom of León
kept itself as a Spanish Crown territory, whose capital city was León apart from a short period, during which French troops invaded the Kingdom when it was Carracedo.
joined in the city of León all the three states becoming the city in the first European Parliament, developing laws that protected the people.
Suburb
s for traders and artisans sprang up, who, after the 13th century, began to influence the municipal government. During the early Middle Ages
, the livestock
industry produced a period of prosperity for the city.
decline set in and continued until the 19th century. In July 1936, during the Spanish Civil War
, León joined the war against the Republicans.
During the 1960s, León experienced much growth due to in-migration from the rural zones of the province.
In 1983 León was added to the neighbouring region of Castile
, to form the Autonomous Community of Castile and León
. A popular and local political movement was opposed to being ruled from. Consequently, León is the centre of a peaceful political movement for Leonese autonomy. Some of the Leonese people support the idea of creating a Leonese autonomous community
formed by the provinces
of Salamanca
, León
and Zamora
, which have traditionally composed the Leonese Region.
"), featuring numerous procession
s through the centre of the city. One of them is the so called "Procession of the Meeting", which acts out the meeting of three groups representing Saint John
, the Virgin Mary and Christ
, in the esplanade
in front of the city's Cathedral. Associated with Semana Santa is the procession called "The Burial of Genarín". Genarín was an alcoholic beggar who was hit by and killed by the first garbage truck in the city of León in the year 1929. This is a celebration of alcohol, and the main purpose of the people who attend it is getting drunk in honor to the alcoholic beggar.
The San Juan and San Pedro festivities are also remarkable, celebrated during the last week of June (between June 23 and June 29). During these days several concerts and festivals take place and the whole city is occupied by terrace
s and street market
s where Leonese people celebrate the beginning of the summer, especially on San Juan's night (June 23) when beautiful fireworks
and bonfire
s take place.
(Köppen
: Csb). In winter, temperatures normally oscilate between 1 °C (34 °F) and 16 °C (61 °F). Frost is common in the early hours of the morning before the dawn during the coldest days of the winter, but normally melts after sunrise. Snowfalls are rare and sporadic in the city, however heavy snowfalls are extremely rare and there may be years with no snowfall at all. During spring, temperatures are usually between 10 °C (50 °F) on the coldest days and may easily surpass 25 °C (77 °F) on some days. Summers are very hot and dry, with temperatures usually oscilating between 21 °C (70 °F) and 37 °C (99 °F). However, it's not uncommon for temperatures to reach over 40 °C (104 °F) in the city during the hottest days of summer.
The city enjoys considerable amount of sunshine throughout the year.
(IATA
: LEN) is located approximately 6 kilometers away from the downtown part of the city, in the neighboring town of La Virgen Del Camino/Valverde de la Virgen
. It offers mostly domestic flights within the country, as well as flights to and from Paris, France
. Currently two Spanish airlines operate in it: Iberia/Air Nostrum
and Air Europa. They offer flights from and to Madrid, Spain
, Barcelona, Spain
, Valencia, Spain, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Tenerife, Spain
and Paris, France
. During the summer months the number of available destinations increases, and flights are also offered from and to Ibiza, Spain
, Menorca, Spain
, Málaga, Spain
and Gran Canaria, Spain
.
line, and one on the FEVE
lines.
and developed in the Middle Ages. At this time, Leonese was the official language of the Leonese Kingdom
and achieved a high codification grade in the city of Llión. The first written text in Leonese was Nodicia de Kesos (959 or 974); other works in the language include Fueru de Llión, Fueru de Salamanca, Fueru Xulgu, Códice d'Alfonsu XI, ou Disputa d'Elena y María or Llibru d'Alixandre
Leonese is considered a seriously endangered language
by UNESCO
. It is almost extinct, being known and spoken by only a very few elderly people who live isolated in the mountains of the northern part of the province of León. However, people who wish to separate León from Castile and who support Leonese autonomy are trying to revive the language. León City Council and Leonese language associations like the Asociación Cultural de la Llingua Llïonesa El Fueyu
are promoting its knowledge and use.
Leonese Language Day
started in 2006 with the support of Leonese Provincial Government, and from 2008 the celebration is organised by the León City Council.
) was created in 2008 and promotes Leonese language activities.
Leonese lessons in schools started in 2008, and it is currently taught in sixteen schools in León city in 2008-2009, promoted by the Leonese Local Government Department for Education. This course is for pupils in their 5th and 6th year of primary school (11 and 12 years olds), where Leonese language is taught with Leonese culture.
More than one hundred people are studying Leonese in adult classes in 2008-2009. There are five levels for adults in the official courses developed by the Department for Leonese Culture of the Leonese City Council.
In the last municipal election
s (22 May 2011) the results were:
The Government of León is composed by the People's Party (Partido Popular). The mayor
is Emilio Gutierrez, from the PP.
León is in the county (comarca
) of Tierras de León
.
with:
Bragança
, Portugal
Porto
, Portugal
León (Guanajuato), México
Voronezh
, Russia
Dublin, Ireland
Within the wide range of Leonese cuisine
the following dishes are the most representative: cecina
(cured, smoked beef), morcilla (a superb variant of blood sausage), botillo
(a dish of meat-stuffed pork intestine), garlic soup, el cocido leonés (a mix of meat with vegetables and chickpeas, served after a vegetable-vermicelli soup) and mantecadas (a sweet).
Another very important part of the gastronomy of León are the tapas
that you can get in most of the many bars in the city. The most important thing about these tapas
is that they are free unlike in most cities in Spain. It is a very common thing to do to go "de tapas" or "tapear" i.e. to go for a few drinks ("un corto", which is a very small beer, "una caña", which is roughly half a pint of beer or "un vino", a glass of wine) just before lunch but more normally as a light form of dinner.
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
of Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
, situated in the northwest of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Its city population of 136,985 (2006) makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for more than one quarter of the province's population. Including the metropolitan area, the population is calculated at 337,740 (2009).
Founded as the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
military encampment of the Legio VI Victrix
Legio VI Victrix
Legio sexta Victrix was a Roman legion founded by Octavian in 41 BC. It was the twin legion of VI Ferrata and perhaps held veterans of that legion, and some soldiers kept to the traditions of the Caesarian legion....
around 29 B.C., its standing as an encampment city was consolidated with the definitive settlement of the Legio VII Gemina
Legio VII Gemina
Legio septima Gemina was a Roman legion; its full name was Legio VII Gemina Felix. VII Gemina dates back to the Year of the four emperors , when the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, Galba, levied a legion to march on Rome...
from 74 A.D. Following its partial depopulation due to the Ummayad conquest of the peninsula, León received a fresh impulse as part of the Kingdom of Asturias
Kingdom of Asturias
The Kingdom of Asturias was a Kingdom in the Iberian peninsula founded in 718 by Visigothic nobles under the leadership of Pelagius of Asturias. It was the first Christian political entity established following the collapse of the Visigothic kingdom after Islamic conquest of Hispania...
. 910 saw the beginning of one its most prominent historical periods, when it became the capital of the Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
, which took active part in the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
against the Moors, and came to be one of the fundamental kingdoms of medieval Spain. In 1188, the city hosted the first Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
in European history under the reign of Alfonso IX
Alfonso IX of Leon
Alfonso IX was king of León and Galicia from the death of his father Ferdinand II in 1188 until his own death...
, due to which it was named in 2010, by the professor John Keane, the King of Spain
Spanish monarchy
The Monarchy of Spain, constitutionally referred to as The Crown and commonly referred to as the Spanish monarchy or Hispanic Monarchy, is a constitutional institution and an historic office of Spain...
and the Junta of Castile and León, as the cradle of Parliamentarism. The city's prominence began to decline in the early Middle Ages, partly due to the loss of independence after the union of the Leonese kingdom to the Crown of Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
, consolidated in 1301.
León sits along the banks of the river Bernesga and it's the last major city in the Camino de Santiago before it climbs west into the mountains that separate province of León from Galicia.
Origins
León was founded in the 1st century BC1 BC
Year 1 BC was a common year starting on Friday or Saturday of the Julian calendar and a leap year starting on Thursday of the Proleptic Julian calendar...
by the Roman legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
Legio VI Victrix
Legio VI Victrix
Legio sexta Victrix was a Roman legion founded by Octavian in 41 BC. It was the twin legion of VI Ferrata and perhaps held veterans of that legion, and some soldiers kept to the traditions of the Caesarian legion....
. In 68 AD Legio VII Gemina
Legio VII Gemina
Legio septima Gemina was a Roman legion; its full name was Legio VII Gemina Felix. VII Gemina dates back to the Year of the four emperors , when the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, Galba, levied a legion to march on Rome...
created a permanent military camp, which was the origin of a later city. Its modern name is derived from the city's Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
name Legio, which itself derives from the Roman legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
recruited from the Iberians
Iberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
by Galba
Galba
Galba , was Roman Emperor for seven months from 68 to 69. Galba was the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, and made a bid for the throne during the rebellion of Julius Vindex...
. The legion established the site of the city to protect the territory from the Astures and Cantabrians, and to secure the transport of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
extracted in the province, especially in Las Médulas
Las Médulas
Las Médulas is a historical site near the town of Ponferrada in the region of El Bierzo , which used to be the most important gold mine in the Roman Empire...
. Tacitus calls the legion Galbiana, to distinguish it from the old Legio VII Claudia
Legio VII Claudia
Legio septima Claudia Pia Fidelis was a Roman legion. Its emblem, like that of all Caesar's legions, was the bull, together with the lion....
, but this appellation is not found on any inscriptions. It appears to have received the appellation of Gemina on account of its amalgamation by Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
with one of the German legions, not improbably the Legio I Germanica
Legio I Germanica
Legio I Germanica was a Roman legion, possibly levied in 48 BC by Julius Caesar to fight for him in the civil war against Pompey...
. Its full name was Legio VII Gemina Felix. After serving in Pannonia, and in the civil wars, it was settled by Vespasian in Hispania Tarraconensis, to supply the place of the Legio VI Victrix and Legio X Gemina
Legio X Gemina
Legio decima Gemina , was one of the four legions used by Julius Caesar in 58 BC, for his invasion of Gaul. There are still records of the X Gemina in Vienna in the beginning of the 5th century. The legion symbol was a bull...
, two of the three legions ordinarily stationed in the province, but which had been withdrawn to Germany.
That its regular winter quarters, under later emperors, were at León, we learn from the Itinerary, Ptolemy, and the Notitiae Imperii, as well as from a few inscriptions; but there are numerous inscriptions to prove that a strong detachment of it was stationed at Tarraco (modern Tarragona
Tarragona
Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
), the chief city of the province.
Kingdom of León
The post-Roman history of the city is largely the history of the Kingdom of León. The station of the legion in the territory of the Astures grew into an important city, which resisted the attacks of the Visigoths till AD 586, when it was taken by Leovigild; and it was one of the few cities which the Visigoths allowed to retain their fortifications. During the struggle with the MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
invaders, the same fortress, which the Romans had built to protect the plain from the incursions of the mountaineers, became the advanced post which covered the mountain, as the last refuge of Cisastur Tribes.
Towards the year 846, a group of Mozarabs (Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
who did not flee from the Muslims and lived under the Muslim regime) tried to repopulate the city, but a Muslim attack prevented that initiative. In the year 856, under the Christian king Ordoño I, another attempt at repopulation was made and was successful. Alfonso III of León
Alfonso III of León
Alfonso III , called the Great, was the king of León, Galicia and Asturias from 866 until his death. He was the son and successor of Ordoño I. In later sources he is the earliest to be called "Emperor of Spain"...
and García I of León
García I of León
García I was the King of León from 910 until his death and eldest of three succeeding sons of Alfonso III the Great by his wife Jimena....
made León city the capital of the Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
and the most important of the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
cities in Iberia.
The Kingdom of León officially started as an independent Kingdom in 910, becoming an Empire who reached the Rhone river in the 12th century.
Sacked by Almanzor in about 987, the city was reconstructed and repopulated by Alfonso V
Alfonso V of León
Alfonso V , called the Noble, was King of León from 999 to 1028. He was the son of Bermudo II by his second wife Elvira García of Castile. The Abbot Oliva called him "Emperor of Spain"....
, whose Decree of 1017 regulated its economic life, including the functioning of its markets. León was a way-station for pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s on the Camino de Santiago leading to Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
. With Alfonso V of León
Alfonso V of León
Alfonso V , called the Noble, was King of León from 999 to 1028. He was the son of Bermudo II by his second wife Elvira García of Castile. The Abbot Oliva called him "Emperor of Spain"....
the city had the "Fueru de Llión", an important letter of privileges.
The Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
conquered the Leonese Extremadura, and was brought to their sisters by Fernando III, king of Castile, joining both crowns in 1230. His son, Alfonso X divided the kingdom again in his testament, but it was not accepted by the King of Castile, who rejoined both crowns. From 1296 to 1301 León was an independent kingdom again, and from then until 1833, when Spain was divided into regions and provinces, the Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
kept itself as a Spanish Crown territory, whose capital city was León apart from a short period, during which French troops invaded the Kingdom when it was Carracedo.
First democratic Parliament in 1188
In 1188, Alfonso IX of LeónAlfonso IX of Leon
Alfonso IX was king of León and Galicia from the death of his father Ferdinand II in 1188 until his own death...
joined in the city of León all the three states becoming the city in the first European Parliament, developing laws that protected the people.
Suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s for traders and artisans sprang up, who, after the 13th century, began to influence the municipal government. During the early Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
industry produced a period of prosperity for the city.
Later history
In the 16th century, economic and demographicDemography
Demography is the statistical study of human population. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic human population, that is, one that changes over time or space...
decline set in and continued until the 19th century. In July 1936, during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, León joined the war against the Republicans.
During the 1960s, León experienced much growth due to in-migration from the rural zones of the province.
In 1983 León was added to the neighbouring region of Castile
Castile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
, to form the Autonomous Community of Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
. A popular and local political movement was opposed to being ruled from. Consequently, León is the centre of a peaceful political movement for Leonese autonomy. Some of the Leonese people support the idea of creating a Leonese autonomous community
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
formed by the provinces
Provinces of Spain
Spain and its autonomous communities are divided into fifty provinces .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. província.*Galician , sing. provincia.*Basque |Galicia]] — are not also the capitals of provinces...
of Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, León
León (province)
León is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.About one quarter of its population of 500,200 lives in the capital, León. The weather is cold and dry during the winter....
and Zamora
Zamora (province)
Zamora is a Spanish province of western Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.The present-day province of Zamora province was one of three provinces formed from the former Kingdom of León in 1833, when Spain was re-organised into 49 provinces.It is bordered by...
, which have traditionally composed the Leonese Region.
Main sights
- RayonnantRayonnantRayonnant is a term used to describe a period in the development of French Gothic architecture, ca. 1240–1350. Developing out of the High Gothic style, Rayonnant is characterised by a shift in focus away from the great scale and spatial rationalism of buildings like Chartres Cathedral or the...
gothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
CathedralLeón CathedralSanta María de León Cathedral, also called The House of Light or the Pulchra Leonina is situated in the city of León in north-western Spain. It was built on the site of previous Roman baths of the 2nd century which, 800 years later, king Ordoño II converted into a palace.The León Cathedral,...
, with its stained glass windows - Basilica of San IsidoroBasilica of San IsidoroThe Basilica of San Isidoro is a church in León, Spain, located on the site of an ancient Roman temple. Its Christian roots can be traced back to the early 10th century when a monastery for Saint John the Baptist was erected on the grounds....
, with its tombs of the Kings of León and fine Romanesque paintings - Convent of San MarcosConvent of San Marcos, LeónThe convent of San Marcos in León, Spain is today an operating luxury parador hotel. It also contains a consecrated church and museum, and is one of the most important monuments of the Renaissance in Spain. It is one of the greatest architectural jewels of León, together with the Cathedral, the...
(currently a luxurious paradorParadorA parador , in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, is a kind of luxury hotel, usually located in a historic building such as a monastery or castle. Parar means to stop, halt or stay.- Paradores de Turismo de España :...
) with a plateresquePlateresquePlateresque, meaning "in the manner of a silversmith" , was an artistic movement, especially architectural, traditionally held to be exclusive to Spain and its territories, which appeared between the late Gothic and early Renaissance in the late 15th century, and spread over the next two centuries...
façade. - Palacio de los GuzmanesPalacio de los GuzmanesThe Palacio de los Guzmanes is a Renaissance building in the city of León; it is the seat of Provincial Government of León.The architect Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón built the palace in the 16th century, commissioned by the aristocratic family of Guzman....
, the site of the provincial diputación (parliament). It contains a patio in the plateresque style by Gil de Hontañón. - The old quarter of the city conserves a large part of the medieval wall and some remains of the original Roman wall.
- Casa de Botines, a neogothic styled building, an example of the architecture of Antoni GaudíAntoni GaudíAntoni Gaudí i Cornet was a Spanish Catalan architect and figurehead of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works reflect his highly individual and distinctive style and are largely concentrated in the Catalan capital of Barcelona, notably his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família.Much of Gaudí's work was...
. - MUSACMuseo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y LeónThe Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, better known as the MUSAC, is a contemporary art museum in the city of León, Spain....
. It is a contemporary artContemporary artContemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
museumMuseumA museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
which opened in 2005. Its design by the architectural studio Mansilla+TuñónMansilla+TuñónMansilla+Tuñón Arquitectos is a Spanish architecture firm founded in Madrid in 1992 by Luis M. Mansilla and Emilio Tuñón Álvarez ....
was awarded with the 2007 European Union Prize for Contemporary ArchitectureEuropean Union Prize for Contemporary ArchitectureThe European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture or Mies van der Rohe award is a prize given biennially by the European Union and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona, 'to acknowledge and reward quality architectural production in Europe'...
. One of the building's most distinctive features is its façade formed out of thousands of large multicolored stained-glass panels. Close to the museum is the León Auditorium, also projected by Mansilla+TuñónMansilla+TuñónMansilla+Tuñón Arquitectos is a Spanish architecture firm founded in Madrid in 1992 by Luis M. Mansilla and Emilio Tuñón Álvarez ....
, which has an equally striking presence of crisp white cubes perforated by irregularly set windows. - Barrio HúmedoBarrio HúmedoBarrio Húmedo is the nickname given to an old part of the city of León, Spain, that is concentrated within the largely intact Roman city walls. The translation is usually rendered as the wet district, a reference both to the large number of bars and clubs packed into a relatively small area and to...
(the drinking and partying area) - Palacio del Conde Luna (14th century)
- University of León
- Plaza del Grano
- Church of San Juan y San Pedro de Renueva, dating to 1944-1970, but including a 18th-century Baroque façade taken from the ruined monastery of San Pedro de Eslonza, located c. 22 km outside the city.
- Church of San Salvador de Palat del Rey, the most ancient in the city (10th century), however with few remains of the original Pre-Romanesque building. As the name (meaning church of the "Holy Savior of the King's Palace") suggests, it once acted as royal chapel
- The Walls, built in the 1st century BC and enlarged in the 3rd-4th centuries AD. They were again restored and enhanced in 1836-1840.
Folklore and customs
Leonese customs include the Semana Santa ("Holy WeekHoly Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
"), featuring numerous procession
Procession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
s through the centre of the city. One of them is the so called "Procession of the Meeting", which acts out the meeting of three groups representing Saint John
John the Apostle
John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...
, the Virgin Mary and Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, in the esplanade
Esplanade
An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
in front of the city's Cathedral. Associated with Semana Santa is the procession called "The Burial of Genarín". Genarín was an alcoholic beggar who was hit by and killed by the first garbage truck in the city of León in the year 1929. This is a celebration of alcohol, and the main purpose of the people who attend it is getting drunk in honor to the alcoholic beggar.
The San Juan and San Pedro festivities are also remarkable, celebrated during the last week of June (between June 23 and June 29). During these days several concerts and festivals take place and the whole city is occupied by terrace
Terrace (stadium)
A terrace or terracing in sporting terms refers to the traditional standing area of a sports stadium, particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
s and street market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
s where Leonese people celebrate the beginning of the summer, especially on San Juan's night (June 23) when beautiful fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
and bonfire
Bonfire
A bonfire is a controlled outdoor fire used for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration. Celebratory bonfires are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large...
s take place.
Districts
The city of León can be divided into more than 36 districts (barrios):- Centro or downtown
- Casco Antiguo or Casco Histórico, the historical part of the city
- Área 17
- Armunia
- Cruce de Armunia
- El Crucero
- El Ejido
- Ensanche
- Eras De Renueva
- La Asunción
- La Chantría
- La Lastra
- La Palomera
- La Sal
- La Torre
- La Vega
- La Victoria
- Las Ventas
- Obra Sindical Del Hogar
- Oteruelo De La Valdoncina
- Paraíso-Cantinas
- Patronato Viviendas Militares
- Pinilla
- Puente Castro
- San Claudio
- San Esteban
- San Lorenzo
- San Mamés
- San Marcelo
- San Marcos
- San Martín
- San Pedro
- Santa Ana
- Santa Marina
- Santa Olaja
- Polígono 58
- Trobajo Del Cerecedo
- Trobajo Del Camino
Climate
León features a warm-summer Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
: Csb). In winter, temperatures normally oscilate between 1 °C (34 °F) and 16 °C (61 °F). Frost is common in the early hours of the morning before the dawn during the coldest days of the winter, but normally melts after sunrise. Snowfalls are rare and sporadic in the city, however heavy snowfalls are extremely rare and there may be years with no snowfall at all. During spring, temperatures are usually between 10 °C (50 °F) on the coldest days and may easily surpass 25 °C (77 °F) on some days. Summers are very hot and dry, with temperatures usually oscilating between 21 °C (70 °F) and 37 °C (99 °F). However, it's not uncommon for temperatures to reach over 40 °C (104 °F) in the city during the hottest days of summer.
The city enjoys considerable amount of sunshine throughout the year.
Airport
León AirportLeón Airport
León Airport , is an international airport located from Léon, Spain. In 2007, the airport handled 161,705 passengers, 7,328 operations and 300 kilograms of cargo.-History:...
(IATA
IATA airport code
An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association...
: LEN) is located approximately 6 kilometers away from the downtown part of the city, in the neighboring town of La Virgen Del Camino/Valverde de la Virgen
Valverde de la Virgen
Valverde de la Virgen is a municipality located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the municipality has a population of 5,034 inhabitants....
. It offers mostly domestic flights within the country, as well as flights to and from Paris, France
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Currently two Spanish airlines operate in it: Iberia/Air Nostrum
Air Nostrum
Air Nostrum, Líneas Aéreas del Mediterráneo, S.A., also known as Iberia Regional, is a regional airline based in Valencia, Spain. Air Nostrum is an independent carrier which operates as a franchisee of Iberia Airlines. Iberia Regional franchise is a regional partner of Iberia and an affiliate...
and Air Europa. They offer flights from and to Madrid, Spain
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Valencia, Spain, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Tenerife, Spain
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
and Paris, France
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. During the summer months the number of available destinations increases, and flights are also offered from and to Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
, Menorca, Spain
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
, Málaga, Spain
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
and Gran Canaria, Spain
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, with a population of 838,397 which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago...
.
Train stations
León has two railway stations, one on the RENFERENFE
Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
line, and one on the FEVE
FEVE
FEVE is a state-owned Spanish railway company, which operates most of Spain's of metre gauge railway.-History:...
lines.
Leonese language
History
The Leonese language derives directly from LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and developed in the Middle Ages. At this time, Leonese was the official language of the Leonese Kingdom
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
and achieved a high codification grade in the city of Llión. The first written text in Leonese was Nodicia de Kesos (959 or 974); other works in the language include Fueru de Llión, Fueru de Salamanca, Fueru Xulgu, Códice d'Alfonsu XI, ou Disputa d'Elena y María or Llibru d'Alixandre
Leonese is considered a seriously endangered language
Endangered language
An endangered language is a language that is at risk of falling out of use. If it loses all its native speakers, it becomes a dead language. If eventually no one speaks the language at all it becomes an "extinct language"....
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. It is almost extinct, being known and spoken by only a very few elderly people who live isolated in the mountains of the northern part of the province of León. However, people who wish to separate León from Castile and who support Leonese autonomy are trying to revive the language. León City Council and Leonese language associations like the Asociación Cultural de la Llingua Llïonesa El Fueyu
Asociación Cultural de la Llingua Llïonesa El Fueyu
The Asociación Cultural de la Llingua Llïonesa El Fueyu is a Leonese language association whose main effort is promoting the knowledge of Leonese language and the defense of the rights of Leonese language speakers.-History:Leonese language association El Fueyu was born in Llión in 2005, an...
are promoting its knowledge and use.
Leonese Language Day
Leonese Language Day
Leonese Language Day is a celebration for promoting the Leonese language developed in the city of Llión, province of Llión, Spain...
started in 2006 with the support of Leonese Provincial Government, and from 2008 the celebration is organised by the León City Council.
Teaching
At the end of the 1990s, several associations unofficially promoted Leonese language courses. In 2001, the Universidad de León (University of León) created a course for Teachers of Leonese language, and local government developed Leonese language courses for adults. The Leonese Language Teachers and Monitors Association (Asociación de Profesores y Monitores de Llingua LlïonesaAsociación de Profesores y Monitores de Llingua Llïonesa
The Asociación de Profesores y Monitores en Llingua Llïonesa or APMLL is a Leonese language association where are integrated the teachers and monitors that teach this language...
) was created in 2008 and promotes Leonese language activities.
Leonese lessons in schools started in 2008, and it is currently taught in sixteen schools in León city in 2008-2009, promoted by the Leonese Local Government Department for Education. This course is for pupils in their 5th and 6th year of primary school (11 and 12 years olds), where Leonese language is taught with Leonese culture.
More than one hundred people are studying Leonese in adult classes in 2008-2009. There are five levels for adults in the official courses developed by the Department for Leonese Culture of the Leonese City Council.
Government
The Leonese City Council was founded in 1345. It has 27 city councillors.In the last municipal election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s (22 May 2011) the results were:
- Partido PopularPeople's Party (Spain)The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
- 44.61% votes and 15 councillors - Spanish Socialist Workers Party (Partido Socialista Obrero Español, PSOE) - 30.99% of the votes and 10 councillors
- Unión del Pueblo Leonés - 6.88% and 2 councillors
The Government of León is composed by the People's Party (Partido Popular). The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
is Emilio Gutierrez, from the PP.
León is in the county (comarca
Comarca
A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...
) of Tierras de León
Tierras de León
Tierra de León is a shire in the province of León. The city of León, capital of the province, is the biggest city in the comarca.-Municipal terms:-External links:*...
.
Twin towns — sister cities
León is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
Bragança
Bragança (Portugal)
Bragança is a city and municipality in north-eastern Portugal, capital of district of Bragança, in Alto Trás-os-Montes subregion of Portugal. In 2001, the population of the municipality was 34,774, in an area of 1173.57 km².-History:...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
León (Guanajuato), México
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Voronezh
Voronezh
Voronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Food
Leonese cuisine
Castilian-Leonese cuisine refers to the typical dishes and ingredients of the region of Castile and León in Spain. This cuisine is known for its cooked dishes and its grilled or roasted meats , its high-quality wines, the variety of its desserts, its sausages , and its cheeses...
the following dishes are the most representative: cecina
Cecina (meat)
Cecina de León redirects hereIn Spanish, cecina means "meat that has been salted and dried by means of air, sun or smoke". The word comes either from the Latin siccus or from the Celtic ciercina related to modern Spanish "cierzo" or Northern wind.The best known cecina is Cecina de León, which is...
(cured, smoked beef), morcilla (a superb variant of blood sausage), botillo
Botillo
Botillo , Botelo or Butiellu , is a dish of meat-stuffed pork intestine. It is a culinary specialty of El Bierzo, a county in the Spanish province of León and also of the region of Trás-os-Montes, in Portugal...
(a dish of meat-stuffed pork intestine), garlic soup, el cocido leonés (a mix of meat with vegetables and chickpeas, served after a vegetable-vermicelli soup) and mantecadas (a sweet).
Another very important part of the gastronomy of León are the tapas
Tapas
Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold or warm ....
that you can get in most of the many bars in the city. The most important thing about these tapas
Tapas
Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold or warm ....
is that they are free unlike in most cities in Spain. It is a very common thing to do to go "de tapas" or "tapear" i.e. to go for a few drinks ("un corto", which is a very small beer, "una caña", which is roughly half a pint of beer or "un vino", a glass of wine) just before lunch but more normally as a light form of dinner.