León (province)
Encyclopedia
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 (2008) lives in the capital, León. The weather is cold and dry during the winter.
There are Roman Catholic cathedrals at León and Astorga. The province shares the Picos de Europa National Park
(in the Picos de Europa
mountain range) with Cantabria
and Asturias
. It has 211 municipalities.
into regions and provinces instead of Kingdoms. The Leonese Region was composed of the provinces of León, Salamanca and Zamora.
Until 1833, the independently administered Kingdom of León
, situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula
, retained the status of a kingdom
, although dynastic union
had brought it into the Crown of Castile
. The Kingdom of León was founded in 910 A.D. when the Christian princes of Asturias
along the northern coast of the peninsula
shifted their main seat from Oviedo
to the city of León
. The Atlantic provinces became the Kingdom of Portugal
in 1139, and the eastern, inland part of the kingdom was joined dynastically to the Kingdom of Castile
first in 1037–1065, again 1077–1109 and 1126–1157, 1230–1296 and from 1301 onward. (See Castile and León#Historic union of the Kingdoms of Castile and León.) León retained the status of a kingdom until 1833, being composed by Adelantamientos Mayores, where Leonese Adelantamiento consisted of the territories between the Picos de Europa
and the Duero river.
In 1188 the Kingdom of León developed what may have been the first Parliament in Europe, and in 1202 economic legislation.
is recognised by the Statute of Castile and León. The Provincial Government of León signed accords with language associations for promoting Leonese. Leonese is taught in León city, Mansilla de las Mulas
, La Bañeza
, Valencia de Don Juan
or Ponferrada
for adult people, and in sixteen schools of León city. The City Council of León writes some of its announcements in Leonese in order to promote the language.
Cheese
Wines
Sweets
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 northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the 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...
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...
.
About one quarter of its population of 500,200 (2008) lives in the capital, León. The weather is cold and dry during the winter.
There are Roman Catholic cathedrals at León and Astorga. The province shares the Picos de Europa National Park
Picos de Europa National Park
The Picos de Europa National Park is a National Park in the Picos de Europa mountain range, in northern Spain. It is shared by the autonomous communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León.-History:...
(in the Picos de Europa
Picos de Europa
The Picos de Europa is a range of mountains 20 km inland from the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous Communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León, forming part of the Cantabrian Mountains...
mountain range) with Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
and Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
. It has 211 municipalities.
History
The province of León was established in 1833 with the new Spanish administrative organisation1833 territorial division of Spain
The 1833 territorial division of Spain divided Spain into provinces, classified into "historic regions" . on the official web site of the government of the Canary Islands, accessed 2009-12-31...
into regions and provinces instead of Kingdoms. The Leonese Region was composed of the provinces of León, Salamanca and Zamora.
Until 1833, the independently administered 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...
, situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
, retained the status of a kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
, although dynastic union
Dynastic union
A dynastic union is the combination by which two different states are governed by the same dynasty, while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct...
had brought it into 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...
. The Kingdom of León was founded in 910 A.D. when the Christian princes 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...
along the northern coast of the peninsula
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
shifted their main seat from Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
to the city of León
León, Spain
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 makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for more than one quarter of the province's population...
. The Atlantic provinces became the Kingdom of Portugal
Kingdom of Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal was Portugal's general designation under the monarchy. The kingdom was located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Europe and existed from 1139 to 1910...
in 1139, and the eastern, inland part of the kingdom was joined dynastically to the Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
first in 1037–1065, again 1077–1109 and 1126–1157, 1230–1296 and from 1301 onward. (See Castile and León#Historic union of the Kingdoms of Castile and León.) León retained the status of a kingdom until 1833, being composed by Adelantamientos Mayores, where Leonese Adelantamiento consisted of the territories between the Picos de Europa
Picos de Europa
The Picos de Europa is a range of mountains 20 km inland from the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous Communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León, forming part of the Cantabrian Mountains...
and the Duero river.
In 1188 the Kingdom of León developed what may have been the first Parliament in Europe, and in 1202 economic legislation.
Language
The Leonese languageLeonese language
The Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
is recognised by the Statute of Castile and León. The Provincial Government of León signed accords with language associations for promoting Leonese. Leonese is taught in León city, Mansilla de las Mulas
Mansilla de las Mulas
Mansilla de las Mulas , Mansiella in Leonese language, is a municipality located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2010 census , the municipality has a population of 1,913 inhabitants....
, La Bañeza
La Bañeza
La Bañeza is a municipality located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2010 census , the municipality has a population of 11,050 inhabitants.It is the capital of the region of Tierra de La Bañeza....
, Valencia de Don Juan
Valencia de Don Juan
Valencia de Don Juan is a municipality located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 4,165 inhabitants.It's well known by its medieval castle....
or Ponferrada
Ponferrada
Ponferrada is a city in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. It lies on the Sil River, a tributary of the river Miño, in the El Bierzo valley, completely surrounded by mountains. It is the last major town along the French route of the Way of St. James before it reaches its destination...
for adult people, and in sixteen schools of León city. The City Council of León writes some of its announcements in Leonese in order to promote the language.
Cuisine
Embutidos- Cecina de LeónCecina (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...
: from beef. In the Leonese languageLeonese languageThe Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
, cecina means "meat that has been salted and dried by means of air, sun or smoke". Cecina de León is made of the hind legs of beef, salted, smoked and air-dried in the province of León, and has PGIProtected designation of originProtected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
status.
- BotilloBotilloBotillo , 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...
: from pig. Traditionally made in the western Leonese regions, botiellu, as it is in Leonese, is a dish of meat-stuffed pork intestine. It is a culinary specialty of the county of El BierzoEl BierzoEl Bierzo is a shire in the province of León, Spain. The valley has the administrative status of comarca and its capital is the town of Ponferrada. Other major towns are Bembibre and Villafranca del Bierzo, the historical capital.- History :...
and also of the region of Trás-os-MontesTrás-os-Montes e Alto DouroTrás-os-Montes e Alto Douro is a historical province of Portugal located in the northeastern corner of the country. Vast plateaus, river valleys, mountains, and castles abound in Trás os Montes e Alto Douro....
in Portugal. This type of embutidoEmbutidoAn embutido , enchido or embotits is a generic term for sausages found in Spain, Portugal, the Philippines, and Central and South America....
is a meat product made from different pieces left over from the butchering of a pig, including the ribs, tail, and bones with a little meat left on them. These are chopped; seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and other spices; stuffed in the cecum of the pig; and partly cured via smoking. It can also include the pig's tongue, shoulder blade, jaw, and backbone, but never exceeding 20% of the total volume. It is normally consumed cooked, covered with a sheet. It also has a PGI status.
Cheese
- Queso de Valdeón (Valdeón cheeseValdeón cheeseQueso de Valdeón is a Spanish blue cheese from León. The cheese is made in Posada de Valdeón, in the northeast of the province of León, and is wrapped in sycamore maple , or chestnut leaves before being sent to market...
): a blue cheese produced in Posada de Valdeon, traditionally wrapped in chestnut or sycamore maple leaves before being sent to market.
Wines
- BierzoBierzo (DO)Bierzo is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wines located in the northwest of the province of León and covers about 3,000 km²...
: in the west of the Province of León and covers about 3,000 km². The area consists of numerous small valleys in the mountainous part (Alto Bierzo) and of a wide, flat plain (Bajo Bierzo). The Denominación de OrigenDenominación de OrigenDenominación de Origen is part of a regulatory classification system primarily for Spanish wines but also for other foodstuffs like honey, meats and condiments. In wines it parallels the hierarchical system of France and Italy although Rioja and Sherry preceded the full system...
covers 23 municipalities.
- Tierra de LeónTierra de León (DO)Tierra de Léon is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wines located in the south of the province of Léon, in Castile-Leon region, Spain, and covers an area of 3,317 km2 at an altitude of approximately 900 m above sea level. The area attained its D.O. status on 27 July 2007.-History:Grape...
: in the southeast of the Province of León.
Sweets
- Mantecadas de AstorgaMantecadas de AstorgaMantecadas are a type of spongy pastry from Spain similar to a muffin, but flatter. The best known mantecadas are from Northwestern Spain, being a traditional product of the city of Astorga, province of León, as well as the nearby Maragateria comarca. They taste very much like pound cake.Other...
- Hojaldres de AstorgaAstorga, SpainAstorga is a town in the province of León, northern Spain. It lies southwest of the provincial capital of León, and is the head of the council of La Maragatería. The river Tuerto flows through it. , its population was about 12,100 people....
- Lazos de San Guillermo
- Nicanores de BoñarBoñarThe municipality of Boñar is located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2010 census , the municipality has a population of 2,085 inhabitants with almost all of the residents living in the main town of Boñar...
Shires (comarcas)
- El BierzoEl BierzoEl Bierzo is a shire in the province of León, Spain. The valley has the administrative status of comarca and its capital is the town of Ponferrada. Other major towns are Bembibre and Villafranca del Bierzo, the historical capital.- History :...
- MaragateríaMaragateríaLa Maragatería or País de los Maragatos, Tierra de Maragatos in Leonese language, is an ancient historical region or traditional comarca in the landlocked Province of León, Spain...
- Tierra de CamposTierra de CamposTierra de Campos is a large historical region or greater comarca that straddles the provinces of León, Zamora, Valladolid and Palencia, in Castile and León, Spain...
- La MontañaLa MontañaLa Montaña was a revolutionary socialist periodical published in Argentina. The newspaper was directed by José Ingenieros and Leopoldo Lugones. The first issue was published on April 1, 1897...
- La Ribera
- La CabreraCabreiraLa Cabrera is a comarca in the province of León, Spain. Its surface is 115.87 km² and the population was 4,227 inhabitants in 2007...
- Tierras de La BañezaTierras de La BañezaLa Tierra de La Bañeza is a Leonese comarca or historical region whose capital is the city of La Bañeza.-Minor comarcas:La Tierra de La Bañeza has four minor comarcas:...
- Tierras de LeónTierras de LeónTierra 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:*...