General Info Castile-Leon, Spain

Visiting Spain is not only about sun, great cuisine, and a warm welcome, but also its rich monumental heritage and dazzling natural environment. There is a perfect destination for everyone.

The northern plateau
The autonomous region of Castile and Leon includes much of northern Spain. Castile and Leon borders Asturias and Cantabria in the north, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Aragon, Castile-La Mancha and Madrid in the east, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha in the south; and Portugal and Galicia in the west.

Castile and Leon belong to the lower northern plateau with the exception of the north eastern province of Burgos that is lies in the Ebro depression. The whole area is surrounded by mountains. There are notable foothills arising from the Cantabrian mountain range in the north. The Leon mountains, also in the north, lie in the shadow of these mountains. The Iberian mountain range rises from the northeast, with numerous sierras crossing over into the region. The Sistema Central range appears in the south, and includes both the sierras of Gredos and Guadarrama. The high plateau plain, lies in the middle of these mountains encircled by lesser mountain ranges. These mountain peaks reach up to 500 and 1000 metres in height. The most important waterway is the river Duero that begins in the province of Soria, crosses the region and then heads into Portugal where it finally flows into the Atlantic. Two other important tributaries from the Tagus, the Tietar and the Alberche also begin their life in the province.

Arlanza Valley

This is one of the most beautiful and historically significant natural spots in the province of Burgos. Among its important buildings are the Mozarabic hermitage of Santa Cecilia de Barriosus, the Palacio de Saldañuela, the tower of de Olmos Albos, the remains of the Abadía de San Quirce, the Visigoth church of Quintanilla de las Viñas, and the remains of the most important Benedictine monastery in Castile, San Pedro de Arlanza. Nearby is Covarrubias, with its museum-like houses and streets. Also noteworthy is the monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, of Visigoth origin, whose cloister is one of the most important samples of Romanesque architecture in the world. A few kilometers away is the natural space of La Yecla, a deep, impressive river gorge.

Lerma
On top of a hill that dominates the Arlanza river valley, se find Lerma. Dating back to pre-Roman times, the village reached its maximum splendor under the rule of the Duke of Lerma, favourite of Phillip III between 1598 and 1618. The stately appearance of the historic quarter can be seen, for example, in the majestic Ducal Palace, which at present houses the Parador de Turismo. It was erected between 1601 and 1617 by Francisco de Mora, on top of the ruins of an ancient castle. With sober and elegant lines, this building is flanked by four angular towers. Across from the palace we see the huge Ducal square, which used to be fully arcaded. The most remarkable building there is the collegiate church of San Pedro, which overlooks the Arlanza river. It dates from the beginning of the 17th century and is connected to the Ducal Palace through a projecting passage. Although the exterior appearance is quite austere, inside the temple we find a valuable praying statue of archbishop Cristóbal de Rojas y Sandoval, the duke's uncle, owed to Juan de Arfe. The 1616 organ found here is one of the oldest in Spain. Also worthy of note are the hermitage of La Piedad; the monasteries of San Blas, of Madre de Dios (Mother of God), and of La Ascensión de Nuestra Señora (the Ascension of Our Lady), all three from the 17th century; and the arch of Cárcel, gate to the ancient medieval wall, remodeled by the Duke of Lerma, and turned into a prison.

Burgos
Around the Capital of Burgos there are many places of great cultural importance, including the Palaeontological sites at Atapuerca on the river Arlanzón. We must not forget the Camino de Santiago that passes through the capital leading on to Palencia.  Other towns and monuments litter the area surrounding Burgos, attracting hundreds of tourists.

Catedral de Burgos
One of the finest examples of Spanish Gothic art
This cathedral is outstanding for the elegance and harmony of its architecture, and it is the only one in Spain which, for its cathedral building alone, has received the UNESCO World Heritage designation.
Although it is predominantly Gothic, the cathedral also displays other artistic styles, given that it was built over a period lasting from 1221 to 1795. Its main façade is the Puerta del Perdón, with a starred rose-window and a gallery of statues of the Castile monarchs. On either side are its 84-metre towers, crowned by magnificent 15th century spires with open stonework traceries. Its most beautiful group of sculptures, however, is to be found on the Puerta del Sarmental façade, with the image of a Pantocrator surrounded by the apostles and evangelists. Inside, special mention should be made of the dome of the main nave, topped with a beautiful Mudejar vault. Beneath it lie the remains of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as "El Cid Campeador", and his wife, Doña Jimena. Close by you will find the beautiful Escalera Dorada (golden staircase) by Diego de Siloé, built in the 16th century and inspired in the Italian Renaissance. In the side-naves of the cathedral there are 19 chapels, with the Condestable and Santa Tecla chapels standing out especially. There are also valuable works of art to be enjoyed: a unique collection that includes altarpieces, paintings, choir stalls, tombs and sculptures, amongst other objects.

Continental climate
The continental climate in the autonomous region of Castile and Leon is notable for its long winters and short summers.

The mountainous terrain dictates the weather patterns in the region. The high average altitude, and the encircling mountain perimeter, define its continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Rainfall on the central flat lands varies between 600mm and 400mm. These figures are higher in the mountain areas, and take the form of snow in the winter. In the mountainous areas above 2,000 m, the snow can be permanent.