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Destinations in Castilla y León
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Destinations in Castilla y León
**** ►León
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Castilla y León is more than twice the size of the Netherlands, but do have just 2.5 million inhabitants. This means extensive rural areas and long distances between the cities. But the roads are good and with pretty little traffic, so there is no problem moving around. Today the car is the transport equipment par excellence in Castilla y León. But the growing high speed train network has also reached this area. Valladolid, the capital (but not the most interesting town) of Castilla y León can be reached in just one hour from Madrid. And some of the trains do stop nearby beautiful Segovia on it's way to Valladolid. Parts of the region is pretty barren, but here is also much cultivated land. (but not much green grass to be seen)! The summers are very hot and the winters are cold, so spring and autumn are best seasons to make a visit. But the colder nights during the summer (because of the high altitude) , make the summer not impossible for a visit either. There are many interesting towns to visit in Castilla y León. Except Andalucía, no other Spanish region can offers this much interesting architecture. The "time of progress" which caused a lot of ugly buildings to be built after the second world war throughout all Europe, didn't arrive in Castilla y León. And this make this region (together with Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura) a showcase of Medieval architecture. Behind every destination name below, you'll find the name of the province in parenthesis.
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►Videoes of Astorga: Video 1 Video 2 ►Tourism Castilla y Leon: Astroga
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Astorga is a more than 2 000 years old Roman town. The city wall, the cathedral and the Bishop's Palace of Gaudi are all worth a visit. |
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►Videos of Ávila: Video 1 Video 2 ►Tourism Castilla y Leon: Ávila ►World Heritage Cities of Spain: Ávila
Restaurants: (atmosphere, good food, not expensive)
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Ávila is no ordinary town. The old city walls (2,5 km!) are still intact and you can walk around on the walls and get a magnificent view of the town. Ávila is one of Europe's greatest walled cities. When you arrive Ávila, you can park just outside the city walls and walk inside. Not much has changes in this town the last 500 years. There are many interesting buildings, both inside and outside the city walls. When you have walked around in the streets and on the walls, many good restaurants are waiting to offer you a good meal. During the day, there are many tourists in Ávila, but if you spend a night here, you will get a better medieval feeling during the quiet evenings and nights. The town is located at an altitude of 1 130 meters, which make the nights chilly, even during the summer. The most famous of Ávila former inhabitants is Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582).
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►Patronato de Turismo de Burgos ►Tourism Castilla y León: Burgos
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For 400 years during the last part of the Medieval time, Burgos was the capital of Castilla y León. And Burgos was a major city for several hundred years later as well. Therefore it's no surprise that this town offers a visitor much to see and experience. But Burgos is a bit different from most of the other town of Castilla y León. Burgos has more in common both regarding architecture and atmosphere with other towns of Northern Spain. The medieval buildings don't dominate Burgos (as they do in most other towns of Castilla y León). Here is also several bars where the late nights can be pretty lively. Try Plaza del Huerto del Rey, not far from the Cathedral. But the late nights can be chilly, even during the summer. But the summer days are very hot! Burgos is a town which is easy to fall in love with. It's a combination of old buildings and modern life. Burgos is no museum which you would like just to se one time, but a town which can be visited again and again. The Cathedral of Burgos, is Spain's 3rd biggest cathedral. If you are near the Cathedral during the summer time, you will se pilgrims everywhere on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
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Castillo de Coca *** (Segovia)
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► Tourism Castilla y León: Castillo de Coca
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There are many old castles in the region of Castilla y León. But Castillo de Coca, 50 km north west of Segovia, is perhaps the most remarkable of them all. |
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Ciudad Rodrigo *** (Salamanca)
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►Ciudad Rodrigo (Photos)
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Ciudad Rodrigo is located at the Portuguese border. If you stay in Salamanca, you can visit Ciudad Rodrigo and eat lunch at the Parador. The Parador is a former 1400 century castle. Or if you stay at the Parador a couple of nights, it will be possible to visit Portugal. |
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►Vides of El Burgo de Osma: Video 1 Video 2 ►Tourism Castilla y Leon: Catedral del Burgo de Osma
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"Catedral del Burgo de Osma" is perhaps the most important historical building in the Province of Soria. The rest of the town is interesting as well and it's surrounded by beautiful nature. And there is a good hotel and a well known restaurant in El Burgo de Osma. |
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La Alberca was the first small town in Spain which got National Historic Heritage Status. But small towns like La Alberca tend to be crowded with tourists. Please avoid Sundays and try to stay there one night and you will experience a "quiet" evening in the town. |
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►Tourism Castilla y León: León
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Like several of the other major towns in Castilla y León, León has a long and glorious history. The Roman camp of León later became the capital of the kingdom of León. And in the end León became a less important town. The tow major buildings in León are it's grand gothic cathedral and the former Monasterio de San Marcos, which is today a Parador. This Parador is one of Spain's most atmospheric hotels. Please do also visit the remains of the city walls and the church Colegiata Real de San Isidoro de León.
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Medina del Campo ** (Valladolid)
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Medina del Campo is easy accessible by car, just off the highway. Today most tourist visit Medina del Campo to see the big castle , Castillo de la Mota, just outside the town (see photo above). In medieval time there was an important wool market in Medina del Campo. The town is also where Queen Isabella the Catholic died.
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Medinaceli was once a Roman town. A Roman triumph arch is still found here. But the former central location (regarding the trade routes) of Medinaceli is history. Today the town is a typical Castillan town with about 1 000 inhabitants and a town where the progress of the 20th century never came. |
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Pedraza de la Sierra *** (Segovia)
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►Video of Pedraza de la Sierra ►Turespaña: Pedraza de la Sierra
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Not far from Segovia, but quit another world. When strolling around in this little town, you are back in medieval time. Here are several art shops and also good accommodation alternatives. |
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►Peñafiel - Heart of the Ribera del Duero ►Tourism Castilla y León: Peñafiel
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Many castles do have an interesting location, but the castle of Peñafiel is more spectacular than most. There is a vine museum inside the castle. |
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Peñaranda de Duero is a small town with 600 inhabitants. If you are driving by, please make a short stop. |
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Puebla de Sanabria *** (Zamora)
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►Ayuntamiento de Puebla de Sanabria ►Turespaña: Puebla de Sanabria
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Sanabria ( 1700 inhabitants) do have a castle and a medieval church. When strolling through the tiny, atmospheric and partly step streets, you may end up at the hotel seen on the photo above. There are two good accommodation alternatives in Sanabria. (see "Accommodation" to the left). About 10 km outside the town, there is a lake, Lago de Sanabria.
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►Tourism Castilla y León: Salamanca
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Salamanca is a delightful town. A Travel Guide write about the town: "If Napoleon hadn't destroyed one third of the Salamanca early in the 19th century, Salamanca today would just have been to overwhelming! It is not far from being the truth. When strolling around in Salamanca, there are beautiful buildings everywhere. And they don't build new and ugly buildings in the central areas of town. The new buildings are built in old materials. Salamanca is no museum, but a lively town with thousands of students around. When you stay in Salamanca, several interesting excursions are possible. Ciudad Rodrigo, La Alberca and even Ávila and Zamora are interesting places to visit.
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►Videos of Segovia: Video 1 Video 2 ►Tourism Castilla y León: Segovia
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Segovia is together with Toledo the two towns which are most visited on excursions from Madrid. And it's easy to understand why people visit Segovia. Here is a Roman Aqueduct which is located right in the middle of the town. You can sit down and enjoy a good meal right under the aqueduct! There are plenty of good restaurants in Segovia. After the meal you can stroll through the very interesting pedestrian street until Plaza Mayor. And further on we can go through tiny streets and will end up at the striking Alcazar (castle). At this point there is a magnificent view. Segovia (and Toledo) shouldn't be visited on excursions from Madrid. If you do, you probably will just see tourist all around where ever you go. You must stay at least one night in Segovia (and at least two nights in Toledo). In the summer evenings you can enjoin marvellous Segovia together with thousands of other Spaniards which fill the streets with tables where they eat and drink. Or you can find a small street/square where to enjoy your drink. The new high speed train Madrid-Valladolid is passing by Segovia (stopping 5 km away). (30 min journey).
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►Tourism Castilla y León: Gredos
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Sierra de Gredos is a mountains area north west of Madrid. You don't go here for the one or two week mountain holiday. Then you visit the Alps or other more interesting area. The mountains in the north of Spain is much more impressing than Sierra de Gredos as well. But if you are visiting Castilla, a drive through Sierra de Gredos can be fascinating because of the contrast to the plains seen elsewhere in Castilla.
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Juana la Loca (Johanna the Insane)
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►Tordesillas - Lugar Privilegiado
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Tordesillas is a very interesting town, both because of it's history and because of it's location. When you approach Tordesillas you'll see the town rise above the river Duero. To stroll around in the town is very pleasant. Queen Juana La Loca (the Insane), daughter of Queen Isabella the Catholic, was imprisoned here for 40 years until she died in 1555. The house where she was imprisoned doesn't exist anymore, but the tourist office can tell you where it was found. Another interesting historic event which happened in Tordesillas was the signing of the treaty where the "new world" was divided between Spain and Portugal (1494). This meant that South America (except Brazil) became Spanish.
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►Tourism Castilla y León: Valladolid
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Valladolid is today the capital of the region of Castilla y León. This is one of the few Castilian towns where there are a big expansion. New buildings are popping up everywhere. And Valladolid is now connected to Madrid with a high speed train. (one hour journey). The town (300 000 inhabitants) is the second biggest in central Spain (after Madrid). Valladolid was an important town several hundreds years ago as well. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella was married here in 1469 which meant the birth of Spain as a nation (the kingdoms of Castilla y León and Aragón were joined). And Columbus died in Valladolid in 1506. Central Valladolid is interesting for a visitor.
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►Tourism Castilla y León: Zamora
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Zamora (65 000 inhabitants) is located at the Duero river. Not much is left of the old Zamora, but several interesting buildings are still to be found. One building worth a visit is the Parador, a former medieval palace. (Please see "Accommodation" to the left). But Castilla y León has many very interesting towns, and Zamora won't be at the top of that list. But a short stop in Zamora and a night or just a lunch at the Parador will be a good choice. |
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