"Castille and Leon" Castilla y León by DanielF

Castilla y León Travel Guide: 2,072 reviews and 5,252 photos

Rooves of Turégano (Segovia) - Castilla y León

Diversity under the most beautiful sky

Skies with such a texture and brightness are hard to find elsewhere in Europe. Not to mention the almost empty, endless plains where only a few odd towns with a crumbling fortress and a high bell tower loom in the distance like a mirage. With the river Duero as a backbone, plains (the Meseta) are indeed the most obvious feature in the Castilian landscape and, for sure, the very place that conceals its real soul. But they are not all there is to it. Actually, there is a stunning diversity of landscapes that fit into the large area covered by this autonomous region, which happens to be the largest of the national subdivisions within the European Union; far larger even than several of the Member States. Visitors to this region will be pleasantly surprised with some of the most spectacular and pristine natural spaces in Spain.

Surprising heritage

The human imprint on these open spaces, carved in the course of millennia, has left a cultural and artistic heritage of the utmost significance. Not in vain, the fossilised remains of the oldest Europeans have been found in Atapuerca, near Burgos, dating back to nearly one million years ago. Due to its prominent position in the history of the country, Spaniards regard this region as the quintessential Spain and the Spanish language is indeed called Castilian by most Spaniards. Despite this, Castile and Lion differs in many ways from the stereotypes that Spain has promoted as its signature tourist attractions. Not only is the region landlocked and far from any beach, but despite having torrid summers, winters can be here almost as inclement and icy as in the Eastern European steppes. Unlike in the south, where Moorish influences and Baroque prevail, Romanesque and Gothic architecture are plentiful in Castile and Lion, styles in which the impressive castles after which part of the region is named were built. Even the flamboyant communication of south Spaniards is replaced here by a rather austere and reserved personality, modelled by that rough environment, so prone to mysticism.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Vast open spaces; Rich history; Solid Wine Culture
In a nutshell:Modelled by the roughness

Intro Updated Jul 25, 2008
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Reviews (69)

Loyal Rock Things to Do (53)

The hilltop castle at Peñafiel is still impressive after so many years of forsake and neglect. From the distance, it... more travel advice

Nuestra Señora de Mediavilla - Castilla y León

Medina of Dryriver Things to Do (53)

Medina de Rioseco is the capital of the Western part of the Land of Fields. In spite of the fact that the sea is... more travel advice

Medina of the Field Things to Do (53)

Medina del Campo is the second largest town in the province of Valladolid. During the Middle Ages it hosted the most... more travel advice

Tordesillas from across the Duero - Castilla y León

Tordesillas Things to Do (53)

Under the auspices of the Holy See, the mighty crowns of Castille and Portugal reached an agreement in Tordesillas as... more travel advice

Nightlife (1)
Nightlife
Off The Beaten Path (1)
The Douro canyon
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Comments (5)

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El_Sueco Apr 3, 2005 at 1:32 PM

Very good overview in the 44 "things to do", nice photos and good info.
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asturnut Jun 7, 2003 at 8:57 PM

Interesting info on this page. I think it's great you included the storks! I couldn't believe how big their nests are.
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roamer61 May 29, 2003 at 6:16 AM

Nice site Daniel. i like the pics of natural sites and the info about birdwatching.
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yen_2 May 11, 2003 at 10:26 AM

Daniel, very beautiful pictures..I like the blue waters of the canyon...;)
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globetrott May 5, 2003 at 3:58 PM

an interesting location & great pics !