León - Cathedral

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Cathedral Description

León's principal street, Calle del Generalísimo Franco, leads to the Plaza de Regla, in which stands the Cathedral of Santa María de Regla (13th-14th C.), the work of a number of different architects. It is an impressive structure, 91m/299ft long, one of the great masterpieces of Early Gothic architecture in Spain, showing close affinities with the French cathedrals of Reims and Amiens.

Hobbies & Activities category: Architecture - Gothic; Christian sites

Cathedral Highlights

Cathedral - Interior

The incomparable beauty of the harmonious interior is due particularly to the astonishing light effects produced by the traceried windows, which are up to 12m/39ft in height.

Cathedral - Capilla Mayor

In the center of the Capilla Mayor is a modern retablo incorporating 15th century paintings by Nicolás Francés from the original winged altar; particularly notable is the "Entombment" on the

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Cathedral - Choir Chapels

The chapels opening off the ambulatory contain numerous handsome monuments, notable among them the richly decorated tomb (early 14th C.) of Ordoño II (d. 924). The Capilla de Santiago has very beautiful Renaissance stained glass.

Cathedral - Choir-stalls

The magnificent choir-stalls, carved by Flemish craftsmen, date from the 15th and 16th Centuries.

Cathedral - Cloister

On the north side of the cathedral is a large Plateresque cloister, originally built in the 14th century and altered in the 16th. The frescoes are by Nicolás Francés.

Cathedral - Stained Glass

The 1,800 sq.m/19,400 sq.ft of stained glass range in date from the 13th to the 20th century, the oldest glass being in the middle choir chapels and the rose windows on the west and north fronts.

Cathedral - Trascoro

The richly gilded alabaster Trascoro was the work of Esteban Jordán (1575). It is designed in such a way that it is possible to look up through an opening into the nave.

Cathedral Museum

Adjoining the cloister is the Cathedral Museum: to reach it, leave the cathedral by the main doorway and turn right round the north front, as indicated by a sign. The Museum has a large collection

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Diocesan Museum

The Diocesan Museum, housed in the Seminario Mayor facing the south front of the cathedral, has an interesting collection.

Cathedral - South Front

The south front, similar in form to the west front, with a triple doorway and large rose window, is also very fine.

Cathedral - West Front

Particularly impressive is the west front with its two imposing towers, the 65m/213ft high Torre de las Campanas (on left) and the 68m/223ft high Torre del Reloj, which flank the nave with its

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Address

León Cathedral
Plaza de Regla
León
Spain

Hours

July 1 to September 30

Open	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30
Closed	13:30	13:30	13:30	13:30	13:30	13:30	13:30
Open	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00
Closed	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00

October 1 to June 30

Open	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30
Closed	13:30	13:30	13:30	13:30	13:30	13:30	13:30
Open	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00
Closed	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00