Castile y Leon is the magical “land of the castles” – a land which gave birth to Castilian and the Spanish language, the legendary hero El Cid and Saint Teresa of Ávila.
It’s a fact that Walt Disney used Segovia’s fairytale Moorish fortress as the inspiration for his famous Sleeping Beauty castle. And it’s also a fact that the region is home to a province which boasts more medieval castles than anywhere else in Europe.

SALAMANCA
Salamanca is in the central area of Spain, 212 kilometres from the capital, Madrid. Its historic centre has been designated a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. It is also a favourite destination amongst foreign students wanting to learn Spanish. As you would expect, Salamanca is one of the most important stages on the Route of the Spanish Language.

ÁVILA
Sheltered by the Sierra Gredos Mountains we find Ávila, a World Heritage City. Behind the city walls of this Castile-Leon capital there is a valuable set of churches and Renaissance palaces that bear witness to the past wealth of the town as a textile centre. The excellent roasts and famous Ávila veal cutlet are just part of a rich local cuisine without forgetting the famous dessert of Saint Teresa – “yemas” (sugared egg yolks).

SEGOVIA
Segovia, the old quarters of which, along with its Roman aqueduct, are World Heritage Sites, lies on high ground between the Eresma and Clamores Rivers. In addition to its famous aqueduct, numerous Romanesque churches, the Cathedral and Fortress go to form this magnificent landscape that presides over this part of Castile.

LEON
The Pulchra Leonina, the Sistine Chapel of Spanish Romanesque architecture and the old Hospital de San Marcos are the key points of this former Roman encampment. Over the course of time, León became the capital of the kingdom in the Middle Ages, a historic enclave on the Pilgrim’s Road to Santiago de Compostela and a city perfectly suited to its inhabitants.

VALLADOLID
The historic centre of Valladolid, the city on the Pisuerga River, is home to an interesting collection of Renaissance architecture comprising houses, palaces and emblematic buildings such as the Cathedral, the College of San Gregorio (today the site of the National Sculpture Museum) and the church of San Pablo. The city has an intense cultural schedule thanks to its status as a university town, and hosts events such as the Seminci, the International Film Festival and one of the highlights of the Spanish film calendar, and the International Street Theatre and Arts Festival.

BURGOS
Burgos is situated in the Pilgrim’s Road to Santiago de Compostela; it still preserves important vestiges of its medieval splendour. Aside from a visit to the historic quarter, you can take a quite interesting walk along the banks of the Duero and Arlanza rivers. Great places to approach a delicious, varied cuisine.