Castilla y León
Castilla y León
CULTURE
Castilla y León is one of Europe’s largest regions. Made up of nine provinces – Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora – it is renowned for having a greater cultural, heritage, ethnographic and natural wealth than practically any other region in Spain, and is also home to the origins of the Spanish language.
Castilla y León boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage assets: the Pilgrims’ Route to Santiago, Burgos Cathedral, the Archaeological Site in the Atapuerca Mountain Range, Las Médulas natural monument in León, the cities of Ávila, Salamanca and Segovia, and the Siega Verde Archaeological Site in the province of Salamanca.
Castilla y León is also home to much of Spain’s vast cultural heritage, with more than 300 castles, almost 400 museums housing collections that reflect the region’s artistic, cultural and ethnographic wealth, as well as 23,000 archaeological sites. It also has around a hundred festivals declared to be of regional, national or international tourist interest, the highlight of which has to be the Holy Week celebrations, one of its most deeply-rooted cultural, popular and religious traditions that draw large numbers of tourists. Castilla y León is the setting for no fewer than 8 of the 22 celebrations in Spain declared to be of international tourist interest.
More info: www.turismocastillayleon.com
GASTRONOMY
Food and wine are another two of the countless attractions Castilla y León has to offer. Indeed, here visitors can enjoy a vast range of dishes made with products holding quality designations including fresh and cured meats, pulses, fruit and vegetables, proof that Castilla y León’s cuisine is one of the most varied and highly-appreciated in Spain.
Castilla y León also holds a privileged position on Spain’s winemaking map thanks to its ten Designations of Origin: Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Cigales, Bierzo, Arlanza, Arribes, Tierras de León, Tierra del Vino de Zamora and Rioja, several of which boast an outstanding international reputation. Many of the region’s wineries organise tours of their facilities, offering visitors a fascinating insight into the winemaking and aging processes.
Castilla y León’s culinary delights include both typical fare made from top quality products based on traditional recipes and techniques, as well as a more sophisticated and modern cuisine which, as in the previous case, is created by skilled chefs who have included a clever twist to traditional dishes, adding a new dimension through the use of new techniques and ingeniously innovative culinary methods.
More info: www.turismocastillayleon.com
SHOPPING
Castilla y León boasts a dynamic and modern society that is open to the rest of the world and the ideal destination for those that enjoy shopping tourism. Here visitors cannot only rummage through the small stores and elegant boutiques that line the city centres, but also shop at state-of-the-art shopping malls or in small craft workshops in the towns and villages dotted around the entire region.
Indulging in a little retail therapy in Castilla y León is the perfect occasion to acquire hand-crafted items, especially pottery, leather goods, textiles, jewellery and embroidered items, etc. Yet visitors to Castilla y León should also take advantage of the opportunity to acquire traditional local produce, such as the region’s delicious and widely-acclaimed designation of origin wines and liqueurs, as well as fine food products such as cured meats, cheeses, tinned foods, wild mushrooms, sweets and pastries and pulses, etc.
SNOW
The region of Castilla y León is surrounded by soaring mountains whose peaks are covered with a dense layer of snow in the winter months, making them the perfect choice for a winter sports break and ideal for lovers of skiing, snowboarding, ski touring and cross-country skiing, etc. The stunning landscapes are crisscrossed by routes that enable visitors to explore fascinating towns and villages steeped in history.
Castilla y León has four ski resorts: two in the north of the region – San Isidro and Leitariegos – in the province of León; and two in the south – La Covatilla in the province of Salamanca and La Pinilla in Segovia. There are also several areas offering the chance to enjoy ski touring, particularly in the Gredos Mountain Range in the province of Ávila; San Glorio in the province of León, Brañosera in Palencia and Piqueras Pass in Soria.
Castilla y León has several winter resorts offering a host of activities, many of which are organised by the many active tourism companies operating in Castilla y León, providing visitors with the chance to enjoy the snow to the full in complete safety.
FAMILY
Thanks to its vast size and geographic diversity, Castilla y León offers a host of tourism activities, many of which are just the thing for a fabulous, fun-filled experience with the family.
Castilla y León is home to a large network of official Nature Spaces, several of which include visitor centres offering an insight into the natural landscapes and the surrounding areas. These Nature Spaces are also ideal for experiencing countless active tourism options, ranging from hiking and flora and fauna watching to fun at some of the tree top parks to be found in Castilla y León, where all the family can enjoy a great day out climbing trees and going down the zip lines.
Castilla y León is the ideal choice for actively enjoying the region’s culture, gastronomy and heritage with all the family. The cultural events, gastronomic shows and celebrations held throughout the year make this region a fabulous cultural destination. There are numerous festivals of outstanding interest targeting families in particular, such as the International Puppet Festival held in Segovia in May, Salamanca’s International Arts Festival which takes place in June, or the International Circus Festival in Ávila in September, to name but a few.
CONGRESSES
Castilla y León is the ideal location for a convention, trade fair, corporate event or incentive trip. Not just because of its fast and easy connections with the rest of Spain thanks to its four airports, an extensive railway network included high speed trains and a modern road network, but also thanks to the wide choice of facilities and venues including convention centres, auditoriums, halls, theatres, chapels, meeting areas and exhibition sites. It can also provide a full range of support options, from catering, transport and translating and interpreting to shows and all types of services. It also boasts an extensive range of quality accommodation and catering options, capable of hosting events of all types and sizes in optimum conditions.
In addition, Castilla y León’s vast cultural, monumental natural and culinary heritage further adds to the region’s appeal to congress delegates and visitors, offering them the chance to combine working sessions with an extensive choice of complementary activities including tours of monuments and museums of immense historical and artistic value, as well as culinary and wine tasting sessions in wineries boasting a long-standing tradition, or visits to unique natural spaces, etc.
Castilla y León’s major cities have public and private infrastructures with the capacity to host all kinds of events. They also have Convention Bureaus ready to provide full information regarding the organisation of events.
More info: www.turismocastillayleon.com
