Province of León
Province of León
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Main sights from the province of León. From left to right: Pantheon of San Isidoro, Ponferrada castle, Las Médulas, Astorga, Castrillo de los Polvazares, Barrios de Luna Reservoir. | |
Map of Spain with León highlighted | |
| Coordinates: 42°40′N 6°00′W / 42.667°N 6.000°W | |
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community | Castilla y León |
| Capital | León |
| Area | |
• Total | 15,581 km2 (6,016 sq mi) |
| • Rank | Ranked 7th |
| 3.08% of Spain | |
| Population (2018) | |
• Total | 463,746 |
| • Rank | Ranked 30th |
| • Density | 30/km2 (77/sq mi) |
| 1.08% of Spain | |
| Demonym(s) | Leonese Spanish: Leonés/Leonesa |
| Website | dipuleon.es |
León (UK: /leɪˈɒn/, US: /leɪˈoʊn/; Spanish: [leˈon]; Leonese: Llión [ʎiˈoŋ]; Galician: [leˈoŋ]) is a province of northwestern Spain in the northern part of the Region of León and in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.
About one quarter of its population of 463,746 (2018) lives in the capital, León. The climate is dry, cold in winter and hot in summer. This creates the perfect environment for wine and all types of cold meats and sausages like the leonese "Morcilla" and the "Cecina".
There are two famous Roman Catholic cathedrals in the province, the main one in León and another in Astorga. The province shares the Picos de Europa National Park (in the Picos de Europa mountain range) with Cantabria and Asturias. It has 211 municipalities.