Places of interest in Castilla y León

Castilla y León, known as the "land of the castles", is the largest region in Spain and is littered with enchanting medieval villages, some of the most impressive Gothic cathedrals in Europe and historic cities which are like living, outdoor museums. Segovia and Salamanca offer enough by themselves to fire the imagination and these extraordinarily beautiful cities generally surpass the expectations of first time visitors. Together with Ávila, these cities have earned World Heritage status along with the Santiago Way - the famous pilgrims' trail which traverses Castilla y León en route to the Galician capital of Santiago de Compostela.

The ancient kingdom of Castilla (Castile) was first united with the neighbouring kingdom of Leon in the early part of the 11 th century. It takes its name from the many castles built by the Christians as a defence against the Moorish invaders in the 8th and 9th centuries. In the early years of Arab occupation, the region was at the vanguard of the centuries-long battle to oust the Moors. The most famous champion of the Christian reconquest was "El Cid el Campeador" who was born in Bivar near the city of Burgos and whose coffin lies in the city's magnificent 13th century cathedral (A World Heritage Site).

Visitors from all over the world travel to Castilla y León to follow the "route of the castles" and to soak up the rich history of a region awash with well preserved legacies from the days of the Roman, Moorish and Spanish empires.