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Church · León, Castela e Leão
Catedral de León
13th-century Gothic cathedral, the Pulchra Leonina, known for the medieval stained-glass windows that replace almost all the walls and fill the nave with colour.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Catedral de León
The cathedral of Santa María de Regla, known as the Pulchra Leonina, was begun in the 13th century in the Gothic style of the French cathedrals, on the site of Roman baths and later the palace of the kings of León. It was the first building declared a monument in Spain, in 1844.
The cathedral pushes the Gothic idea of replacing stone with light to the limit. The walls almost disappear and give way to stained glass: there are about 1,800 square metres of coloured glass, mostly medieval, from the 13th to the 15th centuries, one of the largest ensembles of stained glass of the period in the world. On sunny days the nave fills with patches of colour that move throughout the day. The west rose window and the high nave windows show saints, kings, biblical scenes and even figures of trades and hunting.
The façade has three sculpted Gothic portals, including that of the Virgen Blanca, and two towers. In the 19th century the building threatened to collapse and underwent a major restoration that dismantled and reassembled parts of the structure and the stained glass.
The cloister, with mural paintings, and the cathedral museum, with sculptures and remains of the Roman baths, complete the visit.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1½ to 2 hours, including the cloister and the museum.
Best time
On a sunny day, in the morning when light passes through the east windows, or late afternoon for the west ones. Guided-visit times are separate from mass hours; check before you go.
How to get there
It stands on the Plaza de Regla in the old town, about 20 minutes on foot from the train station and 5 minutes from the Plaza Mayor.
Tip
Choose a sunny day for the visit: with overcast skies the stained glass loses much of its effect. The audio guide helps interpret the scenes in the windows.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Catedral de León
Why is the catedral de León famous?
For its stained glass: about 1,800 square meters of colored glass, mostly medieval, which replace almost all of the cathedral’s walls.
What's the best time to see the stained glass?
On a sunny day, in the morning for the east-facing stained glass, or in the late afternoon for the western ones.
What does Pulchra Leonina mean?
It's the cathedral's Latin nickname: the beautiful Leonese.