Castile-Leon (Spain)
Castile and León is the name of one of the Spanish Autonomous Communities. The capital is Valladolid. The region is located in the north-western part of central Spain. The Duero River flows here. What is special is that the western part through the historical landscape Leon is formed and the central or eastern part is part of the historical landscape of Castile.
The provinces of Avila,Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Sorgia, Valladolid and Zamora belong to Castile-León.
Life and landscapes in Castile-León
As the largest region in Spain, Castile-León has many treasures from historical times. As a visitor, you will also find extensive historical routes, such as the Camino de Santiago or the Ruta de la Plata. The territory and region of Castile and León had a great influence on Spanish history in the past. There is a reason for this, because Castile-León was the center of power in Spain for many centuries.
Some mountain ranges run through the landscape of Castile-Leon and thus shape the entire image of the region.
The Duero meanders through the wide and elongated steppe in the central plain. Here mainly agricultural use takes place in the form of sheep breeding and grain cultivation.
The climate in Castile-León shows its continental side. There are hot summers and cold winters here.
The mountain ranges are very popular with hikers, because from here you have a fantastic view over the region and mountain sports can be practiced here in all variants. In addition, there are some glacial lakes in León, where canoe trips are offered.
The Médulas are not only very scenic and special, they also have an impressive past. When the Romans occupied the region, they extracted millions of tons of earth here using hydrological technology. They extracted gold from it. You can still see these pits today.
Today the region is rich in orange and almond trees, the fruits of which are exported abroad.
What to see in Castile and León
Spanish history left its mark on Castile and León. So you can find a lot of convents, monasteries, castles, palaces, city walls, historical buildings and squares. If you are interested in Spanish history, you can bring it back to life here and collect impressions. In many places you can still find well-preserved houses or ruins from bygone times. Many of them can also be visited.
The 11 cathedrals of Castile and León are particularly valuable and important from an architectural point of view.
However, the castles are particularly impressive. Hence the first part of the region’s name has to do with the word castles. Castile comes from the word Castillo, which means castle. Many of the castles are in spectacular locations. They are often located on hills and one gets the impression that they are enthroned over the landscape. The number is also impressive. The Castile-Leon region has 300 castles that are spread across the entire area.
In Palencia, on the other hand, there are the largest collections of Romanesque buildings. The most famous building is the San Martin de Fromista. Another well-known building is the Basilica of San Isidoro, which has fantastic frescoes in the crypt.
Barcelona (Spain)
Barcelona is beautiful. A wonderful city for vacation,travel and excursions. The capital of Catalonia shines under the warming summer sun. The Mediterranean creates a relaxed atmosphere. The second biggest city located in Spain just 120 kilometers south of the Pyrenees. So if you are planning a vacation or excursion in Barcelona, you should also take a look at the region of this mountain range.
About 1.6 million people live in Barcelona. The proportion of foreigners here is around 15.9 percent, and the trend is rising. Last but not least, many Europeans and especially Germans emigrate to Spain and the Barcelona region. The wonderful coastal region on the Mediterranean attracts many entrepreneurs who want to try their luck with a bar or pub on the beach.
The transmission tower towers over the city. The famous and widely visible tower is called Torre de Collserola and is a proud 288.4 meters high. the Mont Taber Cathedral in the city center of Barcelona is located on the 12 meter high Mont Taber hill. Of course, this building is not as big as the transmission tower, but optically a lot more appealing.
Barcelona’s cityscape is characterized by a hilly landscape. These hills are often built up and bear the names of the neighborhoods standing there.
If you want a good overview of the city’s impressive harbor, you have to go to the 173 meter high Montjuic mountain. This is located in the southwest of the city. Anyone who has ever been here should also visit the fortress located herefrom the 17th and 18th centuries. At that time this fortress had a control function over the city. Today there is an interestingly equipped military museum here. The mountain is also home to several of the Olympic facilities. You can also find some of the famous gardens in Barcelona here.
The history of Barcelona
2,000 years ago the first people settled in Barkeno. This settlement in the area of today’s Barcelona was very favorable for the population of that time, they were able to defend themselves optimally against attackers and protect their people. In addition, the marine region provided plenty of food for everyone. During the following years the city grew in importance.
Incidentally, there are numerous stories about the founding of the city of Barcelona. Some historians assume that the city was founded by the Carthaginian general Hamilkar Barkas. He was the father of the famous Hannibal. Hamilkar Barkas is said to have Barcelona around 230 BC. When the city founded Barkenon, Bareclino or Barci Nova. Although the assumption is reasonable due to the similarity of names, the majority of people who believe that the founding of Barcelona goes back to the Iberian Barkeno prevail.
Another story, actually a legend, assumes that the demigod Heracles was around 1153 BC. BC Barcelona is said to have founded. Heracles should be on the Search for the Golden Fleece Have traveled the Mediterranean with a fleet. It was due to a storm on the Catalan coast. One of the ships was lost off the coast. Heracles went on a search and found the crew. The wonderful landscape is said to have impressed him so much that he is said to have founded a city called Barca Nova. Unfortunately, at that time, neither Latin nor Romansh was spoken on the Iberian Peninsula. And whether there was a demigod is up to the imagination.