León: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

León Cathedral combines a long construction history with its Gothic design: construction began around 1205. It also features 1,800 square metres of stained-glass windows that define the sacred building.

Those choosing León as a travel destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment.

Culture and history

Several architectural periods meet at the Palacio de los Condes de Luna. The palace consists of a Gothic structure, a Renaissance tower and a central section enclosed by both. It has been protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural since 1931. The building offers the general public free guided tours without prior reservation.

The Centro de Interpretación del Reino de León is also located in the Palacio Conde Luna. It traces the history of the former kingdom from 910 onwards across eight rooms. The Museo de León is wheelchair accessible.

San Isidoro is considered Spain’s most significant Romanesque ensemble and combines styles ranging from Romanesque to Baroque. The Tesoro de León collection at San Isidoro includes the chalice of Doña Urraca. San Marcos has another outstanding façade: it is one of the significant façades of the Spanish Renaissance in the Plateresque style.

The Iglesia de San Marcelo has a Latin-cross floor plan; its present appearance dates from the 17th century. Inside are a large high altar and other side altars with expressive sculptures by Gregorio Fernández.

Palat del Rey is considered the oldest church in the capital of León and is said to have been built in the 10th century by Ramiro II, “the Great”. Only a small chapel from the 16th century and some remnants of wall paintings have been preserved there. The Plaza del Grano formerly hosted grain, bread and other markets; it was laid out near the French Way of Saint James.

Museums and collections

The Casa Museo Sierra-Pambley conveys the domestic life of an educated 19th-century family as well as the educational work of the Sierra-Pambley Foundation. At the same time, the museum preserves the furnishings and household equipment of the house built in the 19th century.

The collection of the Museo Casa Botines Gaudí encompasses fine and decorative art from five hundred years of art history on the Iberian Peninsula, from the late 15th to the late 20th century. During a tour of the interior of Casa Botines, visitors can access the original tower from 1893. The visits also include an exhibition about the history of the building and Gaudí.

MUSAC is a space open to all citizens for thought, dialogue and the exchange of analytical tools and proposed courses of action concerning art and its relationship with society.

Paths and city life

The Orillas del Bernesga ecological corridor includes a dedicated cycle path. Along the corridor there are play areas for children and areas for jogging.

The Roman route indicates a rectangular area measuring 570 × 350 metres that was occupied by Legio VII. León is part of the association of municipalities along the Way of Saint James. Signposts are installed throughout the city to help travellers and pilgrims find their way.

As night falls, the Barrio Romántico becomes a lively meeting place. In the establishments of the Barrio Húmedo, eating tapas has the character of a shared tradition.

Festivals and cuisine

The Feria de los productos de León takes place every year in October, around 12 October. Over four intensive days, the programme includes live cooking demonstrations, product tastings, tastings and workshops.

The Feria de Alfarería y Cerámica de León has been held at Plaza San Marcelo since 1980.

Other local pages

Castropodame, Lugueros, Boca De Huérgano, Ponferrada, Palacios De La Valduerna, León, Corullón, Bembibre, Astorga, Páramo Del Sil, Villafranca Del Bierzo, San Andrés Del Rabanedo, Carucedo, Posada De Valdeón, Onzonilla, Noceda Del Bierzo, Quintana Del Castillo, San Adrián, Castrocontrigo, Molinaseca, Rabanal Del Camino, Sena De Luna, Cistierna, Vega De Espinareda, Torre Del Bierzo, Sahagún, Cacabelos, Luyego, Hospital De Órbigo, Riaño, Santa Marina Del Rey, Puebla De Lillo, Carracedelo, Vegacervera, Carrocera, Balboa, Val De San Lorenzo, Gusendos De Los Oteros, Borrenes, Vega De Valcarce, Cabrillanes, Carrizo De La Ribera, Rioseco De Tapia, Santa María Del Páramo, Congosto, Trabadelo, Barbadillo, Santa María De Ordás, La Bañeza, Sariegos, Boñar, Santovenia De La Valdoncina, Valderrueda, Berlanga Del Bierzo, Barjas, Valdepiélago, Igüeña, Villablino, Valverde De La Virgen, Soto Y Amío, Riello, Puente De Domingo Flórez, San Juan De La Mata, Toreno, Valencia De Don Juan, Valdefresno, Villacelama, Villaseca De Laciana, Piedrafita De Babia, Las Médulas, Pereda De Ancares, San Emiliano, Brazuelo, Villarente, Riego De Ambrós, Santiago Millas, Cubillas De Arbás, Cármenes, Maraña, Secarejo, Candín, Murias De Paredes, Tombrío De Arriba, Valderas, Cubillos Del Sil, Valdevimbre, Toral de los Vados, Prioro, Serrilla, Murias De Rechivaldo, Lorenzana, Vallecillo, Brimeda, San Cipriano Del Condado, Pallide, Odollo, Oseja De Sajambre, Peñalba De Santiago, Meroy, Cerezales Del Condado, Combarros, Colinas Del Campo De Martín Moro, La Magdalena, Villaturiel, Los Barrios De Luna, Espinoso De Compludo, Ventosilla, Villafeliz De La Sobarriba, La Cueta, Sésamo, Siero De La Reina, Santa Marina De Somoza, Santa Eulalia De Cabrera, Las Murias, Ardón, Canales, Vegaquemada, San Cristóbal De Valdueza, Valdecañada, El Acebo De San Miguel, Mansilla Mayor, La Candana De Curueño, Santa Colomba De Somoza, Robles De Laciana, Valle De Finolledo, Chozas De Abajo, Orellán, Quintanilla De Somoza, Valderrey, Valdemora, Torrebarrio, Sahechores, Sopeña de Carneros, Cofiñal, Isoba, Camponaraya, Foncebadón, Villagallegos, Santa Cruz de Montes, San Martín de la Tercia, Galleguillos de Campos, Las Lamas, Pradorrey, Las Herrerías, Pendilla, El Burgo Ranero, Huergas de Gordón, Benavides de Órbigo, San Juan de Paluezas, Ocero, Destriana, Rodanillo, San Justo de la Vega, San Esteban del Toral, El Ganso, Vegacerneja, Villaobispo de Otero, Filiel, San Martín del Camino, Magaz de Cepeda, Mansilla de las Mulas, La Braña, Arlanza, Almazcara, Santa Colomba de Curueño, Balouta, Portilla de la Reina, El Valle, Valdealcón, Naredo de Fenar, Valdoré, Matallana de Valmadrigal, Callejo de Ordás, Tejedo de Ancares, Santa Colomba de las Arrimadas, Reliegos, Prado de la Guzpeña, Lago de Carucedo, Rabanal de Fenar, Zacos, Soto de Valdeón, Brugos de Fenar, Orallo, Torre de Babia, Valdelaloba, Quintanilla de Losada, Montealegre, Villanueva de Pontedo, Ribaseca, Villadangos del Paramo, Villaverde de Sandoval, Revilla, Salamón, Chana de Somoza, Cembranos, Santa Lucía de Gordón, Fuentes de Peñacorada, Vega de Infanzones, Toral de Merayo, Sosas de Laciana, Beberino, Villanueva del Condado, San Justo de Cabanillas, Aralla de Luna.

For the higher-level travel overview: Castile and León.