Castile and León facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Castile and León Castilla y León  (Spanish) Castiella y Llión (Leonese) Castela e León  (Galician)
Autonomous community
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Spain
Capital	Valladolid (de facto)
Provinces	Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora
Area
• Total	94,216.91 km2 (36,377.35 sq mi)
Area rank	1st in Spain
Population  (2025)
• Total	2,401,221
• Rank	6th in Spain
• Density	25.486094/km2 (66.008680/sq mi)
Demonyms	castellanoleonés castellano y leonés
GDP
• Total	€70.876 billion (2023)
• Per capita	€29,698 (2023)
ISO 3166 code	ES-CL
Official languages	Spanish
Statute of Autonomy	2 March 1983
Congress seats	31 (of 350)
Senate seats	39 (of 265)
HDI (2025)	0.912 very high · 9th

Castile and León is a large and historic region in northwest Spain. It is one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities. This means it has its own government, but it is still part of Spain. While it doesn't have an official capital city, Valladolid is where the main government offices are located. It's also the biggest city in the region.

This region is surrounded by land, with no coastlines. It borders Portugal and many other Spanish regions. Imagine a big, flat area called the Inner Plateau in the middle. Mountains surround this plateau on three sides: the Cantabrian Mountains in the north, the Sistema Central in the south, and the Sistema Ibérico in the east. The Douro River flows through most of the region, heading west towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Castile and León is the largest region in Spain by size, covering over 94,000 square kilometers. However, not many people live here, about 2.4 million people as of 2025. This makes it one of the least crowded areas in Spain.

The region was formed in 1983. It brought together nine provinces: León, Zamora, Salamanca, Ávila, Burgos, Palencia, Segovia, Soria, and Valladolid.

Castile and León is famous for its history and culture. It has eleven World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO. This is more than almost any other region in the world! UNESCO also says that the Cortes of León of 1188 was one of the first parliaments in the world.

Exploring the History of Castile and León

The lands of Castile and León have been home to people for a very long time. Scientists have found many ancient bones in the Atapuerca Mountains. These discoveries help us understand the history of human evolution. One important finding was the remains of Homo heidelbergensis.

Before the Romans arrived, different Celtic peoples lived here. The Romans conquered these lands, leading to battles with local tribes. A famous story is the siege of Numantia, an old town near the city of Soria.

The Roman influence was strong and lasting. You can still see amazing Roman structures today. The Aqueduct of Segovia is a huge, ancient water bridge. There are also many other Roman ruins, like those at Clunia. The vía de la Plata was an important Roman road.

After the Roman Empire fell, Germanic groups called Visigoths took over. Later, Arabs arrived in the area. This led to a long period known as the Reconquista (Reconquest). During this time, Christian kingdoms slowly expanded their control.

A small Christian kingdom started in the mountains of Asturias. It grew stronger and moved its center to the city of León. This became the Kingdom of León. To encourage people to move to the newly won lands, kings offered special rules called fueros.

During the Middle Ages, many people made pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela. The Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) passed through this region. This helped new ideas and cultures spread across the area. Today, the Camino is still a popular route for travelers.

In 1188, a very important event happened in León. King Alfonso IX of León gathered a group of people to make decisions. This meeting, called the Cortes of León of 1188, is considered one of the first parliaments in Europe. It even included regular citizens, not just nobles.

At the same time, a part of the Kingdom of León started to grow stronger. This was the County of Castile, which became a powerful kingdom itself. Fernán González of Castile was an early Castilian count.

Both León and Castile continued to expand south. They aimed to take back lands from Islamic rule. This era inspired many heroic poems called Cantares de gesta. These poems told stories of Christian knights fighting. However, Christian and Muslim leaders also had diplomatic ties. A famous knight, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, even fought for both Christian and Muslim kings.

The kingdoms of Castile and León had been separate for a while. But in 1194, Alfonso VIII of Castile and Alfonso IX of León signed a treaty. This agreement helped bring the kingdoms closer. They officially reunited in 1230 under Ferdinand III. This was a big step in forming what would become the Crown of Castile.

The Reconquista finished in 1492. The Crown of Castile conquered the last Muslim kingdom in Spain, the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada.

How Castile and León Became an Autonomous Community

In 1978, Castile and León began its journey to become an autonomous community. This meant it would have its own government. People in the region wanted more control over their local affairs.

There were discussions about how the region should be formed. Some people wanted certain provinces to be separate. For example, Cantabria and La Rioja, which were once part of "Old Castile," decided to become their own autonomous communities.

In the early 1980s, there were many debates. Some people in León wanted their province to be a separate region. However, in 1983, the nine provinces we know today officially joined together. This created the autonomous community of Castile and León. The Spanish Constitution allowed this for reasons of "national interest."

Since then, some groups in the province of León have continued to ask for a separate autonomous community.

Symbols of Castile and León

The region has its own special symbols. These symbols show the unique identity of Castile and León. They are protected by law, just like the symbols of Spain.

The coat of arms is a shield with a royal crown on top. It has four sections. Two sections show a golden castle on a red background. The other two sections show a purple lion on a silver background. The lion is standing up, with a red tongue and claws, and a golden crown.

The flag of Castile and León also shows these symbols. It is divided into four parts, with the castle and lion designs. The flag flies at all official events in the community, next to the Spanish flag.

The region also has a banner, which is the shield on a traditional crimson background. There is also an anthem, but a specific song has not yet been chosen.

Geography of Castile and León

Castile and León is located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. It is a landlocked region, meaning it has no access to the sea.

It shares borders with many other regions. To the north are Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country. To the east are La Rioja and Aragon. To the south are the Community of Madrid, Castile-La Mancha, and Extremadura. To the west are Galicia and Portugal.

Mountains and Plains

Most of Castile and León is made up of the northern part of the Meseta Central. This is a high plateau, about 800 meters above sea level. It has dry, flat landscapes.

The plateau is surrounded by mountains. These include the Montes de León and the Cantabrian Mountains to the north. The Sistema Central is in the south. These mountains are made of strong rocks like granite.

One amazing natural feature is the Ojo Guareña cave system. It has over 110 kilometers of underground tunnels. It is the second largest cave system in Spain.

Rivers and Lakes

The most important river in Castile and León is the Douro River. It starts in Soria and flows 897 kilometers to Porto, Portugal, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Many other rivers, like the Pisuerga and Esla, flow into the Douro.

The region also has beautiful lakes and many reservoirs. Sanabria Lake in Zamora is the largest natural freshwater lake in Spain. Other lakes include Negra de Urbión Lake and Grande de Gredos Lake. These reservoirs store a lot of water from rain and melting snow. This helps the region have enough water, even with less rainfall.

Many natural lakes are now popular for tourism. They help protect nature and bring visitors to rural areas.

Climate of Castile and León

Castile and León has a continental Mediterranean climate. This means it has long, cold winters. Average temperatures in January are between 3 and 6°C. Summers are short and hot, with average temperatures around 19 to 22°C.

Rainfall is not very common, with about 450–500 mm per year. The lower areas tend to be drier.

Winters can be very cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping to -5°C or even -10°C. Sometimes, thick fogs can last for a long time, making it feel even colder. The highest mountains make the temperature differences between day and night, and summer and winter, even greater.

The mountains around Castile and León block winds from the sea. This means that rainfall is uneven. Some mountain areas get a lot of rain, up to 1500 mm per year. But the central plains get much less.

Nature and Wildlife

Plants and Trees (Flora)

Castile and León has many protected natural areas. These areas are part of the European Union's Natura 2000 program. There are also special protection areas for birds.

The plains used to have many forests of evergreen oaks and junipers. Over time, people cleared these forests for farming and grazing animals. Today, you can still find juniper forests in León, Soria, and Burgos.

The mountains, like the Cantabrian Mountains, have rich plant life. In humid areas, you can find large beech trees. These forests often mix with yew, sorbus, holly, and birch trees. Sunny slopes have sessile oaks, ash trees, and pines.

Animals and Their Life Cycle (Fauna)

Castile and León is home to many different animals. Some are unique to this area, and others are rare, like the brown bear. About 63% of all vertebrate animals in Spain live here. Animals adapted to mountains, rivers, plains, and forests all call this region home.

In the high mountains, you can find animals like the Spanish ibex. This mountain goat has a unique subspecies in the Gredos mountains. The European snow vole is a small mammal that lives above the tree line.

Forests are home to many mammals. These include squirrels, dormouses, European pine martens, foxes, wildcats, wolfes, boars, and deer. In the Cantabrian Mountains, you might even spot a brown bear. The wildcat looks like a domestic cat but is larger and has a short, thick tail.

Rivers are home to otters and desmans, which are excellent swimmers. Their waters contain fish like trout and common minnows. Among amphibians, the Almanzor salamander and the Gredos toad are special species found only in the Sistema Central.

In canyons and rocky areas, you can see birds like griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, and golden eagles. The Egyptian vulture is a smaller vulture with a yellow head. Along the riverbanks, you might find black-crowned night herons and grey herons.

Rare birds like the black stork and the Spanish imperial eagle live in open Mediterranean forests. The black stork is shy and lives away from people. The Spanish imperial eagle builds nests in trees and hunts rabbits and other small animals.

In pine forests, you can find birds like the short-toed treecreeper and the eurasian nuthatch. The western capercaillie is a large, dark forest bird that is hard to spot. Birds of prey like the accipiter and tawny owl hunt smaller birds.

Large birds like the bustard live in the open plains. In winter, many greylag gooses visit the wetlands.

The famous naturalist Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente (1928–1980) was from Poza de la Sal. He studied and shared knowledge about wildlife, especially through his TV series El hombre y la Tierra.

In San Cebrián de Mudá, Palencia, there is a project to reintroduce the European bison. These animals had not been seen in Spain for a thousand years. This project helps protect the species.

Population and People

As of 2025, Castile and León has about 2,401,221 people. Slightly more than half are female (50.7%) and slightly less are male (49.3%).

The region has an older population compared to the rest of Spain. About 11.8% of people are under 16, while 27.3% are over 65. This means the population is aging.

With about 25.5 people per square kilometer, Castile and León is one of the least crowded regions in Spain. Many people have moved from rural areas to cities over the years. This has led to a decline in population in some areas.

Life expectancy here is higher than the Spanish average. Women live to about 83.24 years, and men to 78.30 years.

Population Changes Over Time

In the past, many people who worked in farming and livestock moved to cities. This movement, called rural flight, increased after the Spanish Civil War. During the 1960s and 1980s, cities grew a bit, but the region still faces depopulation.

However, some areas are growing. The provinces of Burgos, Valladolid, and Segovia have seen their populations increase recently. Cities like Valladolid, Burgos, and León have also seen growth in their surrounding metropolitan areas. For example, the metropolitan area of Valladolid has over 430,000 people.

Where People Live Today

Most of the 2,248 towns and villages in Castile and León are small. In 2014, nearly 2,000 municipalities had fewer than 1,000 inhabitants.

As of 2025, Valladolid is the most populated city, with 301,798 residents. The smallest village is Villanueva de Gormaz, with only 6 people. Other important towns include Miranda de Ebro, Ponferrada, and Medina del Campo.

Religion in Castile and León

Religion in Castile and León (2019)
Religion			Percent
Catholic Church			76.8%
Non-religious			20.3%
Other religion			1.7%
Unanswered			1.3%

Catholicism is the main religion in Castile and León. In 2019, about 76.8% of people identified as Catholic. About 20.3% said they were non-religious.

People from Other Countries

As of 2025, about 282,218 people living in Castile and León were born in other countries. This is about 11.8% of the total population. The largest groups come from Colombia, Morocco, Venezuela, Romania, and Peru.

Foreign population by country of birth (2025)

Country	Population
Colombia	39,414
Morocco	33,111
Venezuela	21,939
Romania	18,930
Peru	15,883
Bulgaria	15,625
Dominican Republic	12,882
Ecuador	10,700
Portugal	9,572
France	8,400
Brazil	8,102
Argentina	7,843
Cuba	7,785
Honduras	7,630
Germany	4,371

Languages Spoken in the Region

Spanish is the official language and is spoken everywhere. In some small areas, other languages are also spoken. The Leonese language is protected because of its special cultural value. The Galician language is also respected and protected in areas bordering Galicia.

Some immigrant communities also speak languages like Bulgarian, Romanian, and Arabic.

How Castile and León is Governed

The community is made up of nine provinces: Province of Ávila, Province of Burgos, Province of León, Province of Palencia, Province of Salamanca, Province of Segovia, Province of Soria, Province of Valladolid, and Province of Zamora. Each province has a capital city with the same name.

A special area called El Bierzo is also recognized by law. It has its own local council and is centered in Ponferrada. The exclave of Treviño, which is surrounded by the Basque Country, is also part of Castile and León.

Province	Capital	Population (2025)	Area (km2)	Municipalities
Province of Ávila	Ávila	160,738	8,049.04	248
Province of Burgos	Burgos	362,663	14,288.63	371
Province of León	León	448,030	15,578.32	211
Province of Palencia	Palencia	158,702	8,051.95	191
Province of Salamanca	Salamanca	328,446	12,348.35	362
Province of Segovia	Segovia	158,251	6,922.58	209
Province of Soria	Soria	90,183	10,306.98	183
Province of Valladolid	Valladolid	528,644	8,110.51	225
Province of Zamora	Zamora	165,564	10,561.21	248

Autonomous Institutions

Castile and León has its own government bodies:

• The Junta de Castilla y León is the executive branch. It is led by the President and is based in Valladolid.
• The Cortes de Castilla y León is the regional parliament. It is also based in Valladolid.
• The Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Castilla y León is the highest court in the region, located in Burgos.

While Valladolid is the main seat for the government and parliament, other important regional offices are located in different provincial capitals. For example, the Ombudsman's office is in León.

Regional Government and Politics

The current president of Castile and León is Alfonso Fernández Mañueco from the People's Party. This party has often held the most seats in the regional parliament. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is currently the main opposition party.

In 2024, a new law was passed in the region. It caused some discussion because it did not mention General Franco as a dictator.

Promoting Fairness and Respect

The region has a history of important discussions about human rights. The School of Salamanca in the 16th century explored ideas of fairness and respect for all people. The Valladolid debate was a significant discussion about how Indigenous people should be treated by European explorers.

Many groups in the region work to promote fairness and inclusion for all citizens. For example, the Festival Zorrilla's Fest in Valladolid celebrates diverse artists and encourages community engagement. The first transgender person in Spain to become a university professor, Marina Sáenz, teaches at Valladolid University.

Economy of Castile and León

The economy of Castile and León is an important part of Spain's overall economy. In 2023, the region's total economic output (GDP) was about €70.876 billion. The average income per person was €29,698 in 2023.

Unemployment Rates

The unemployment rate in Castile and León has changed over the years. In 2017, it was 14.1%, which was slightly lower than the national average for Spain.

Year	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
unemployment rate (in %)	8.1%	7.1%	9.6%	14.0%	15.8%	16.9%	19.8%	21.7%	20.8%	18.3%	15.8%	14.1%

Farming and Livestock (Primary Sector)

The fields of Castile and León are mostly dry but very fertile. Farmers mainly grow crops without irrigation. However, irrigation is becoming more common in river valleys. Modern farming methods have helped increase production, especially in Valladolid and Burgos.

Castile and León is one of Spain's main areas for growing cereals. Wheat was traditionally the most important crop, but barley production has grown. Rye and oats are also common. Farmers also grow legumes and sunflowers.

The region is also known for its wines. Modern techniques have greatly improved the quality of Castilian-Leonese wines. Famous wine regions include Ribera del Duero (DO) and Rueda (DO).

Raising animals is a big part of the economy. There are many cattle, pig, and sheep farms. Castile and León is the second-largest producer of dairy milk in Spain. The region also produces a lot of meat, especially pork and beef.

Forests are also important. The government is working to reforest areas that were cleared in the past.

Industry and Construction (Secondary Sector)

Industry in Castile and León employs many people. The main industrial areas are around Valladolid, Palencia, Burgos, and Miranda de Ebro. Here, you can find car factories, paper mills, and aeronautics companies. The food industry is also very important, producing flour, sunflower oil, and wines.

Other industries include textiles in Béjar, roof tiles in Palencia, and sugar in several cities. The aeronautics industry, with companies like Aciturri Aeronáutica, is a leader in the sector.

The construction sector also has many companies.

Mining and Energy

Mining has a long history in Castile and León. In Roman times, gold was extracted from places like Las Médulas. Later, coal mining was important, but many mines closed in the 1980s and 1990s.

Castile and León produces more electricity than it uses. It has many hydroelectric plants on rivers like the Douro. The Aldeadávila Dam is one of the most powerful in the country.

The region is also a leader in renewable energy. In 2009, 82.9% of its electricity came from renewable sources. Wind power is very important, with over 100 wind farms.

Services and Tourism (Tertiary Sector)

Tourism is a big part of the service sector. Castile and León has many beautiful places to visit. These include the ancient walls of Ávila and the grand cathedrals of Burgos and León. Many cities have famous Holy Week celebrations that attract visitors.

The region also has a network of Paradores. These are high-quality hotels often located in historic buildings. They help encourage tourism in different areas.

The Las Edades del Hombre foundation organizes art exhibitions. These shows display religious art in various towns, attracting many visitors.

Trade and Exports

Castile and León trades many products. Within Spain, it mainly trades food, cars, fabrics, and footwear. For international trade, the region exports vehicles and car parts, especially from Province of Ávila, Province of Palencia, and Province of Valladolid. It also exports steel, slate, meat, and wine.

The Province of Valladolid exports the most wine. The region mainly trades with countries in the European Union, as well as Turkey, Israel, and the United States.

Education in Castile and León

Castile and León has several universities where students can continue their education.

Public Universities

• University of Burgos
• University of León
• University of Salamanca
• University of Valladolid
• National University of Distance Education

Private Universities

• Catholic University of Ávila
• Miguel de Cervantes European University (Valladolid)
• IE University (Segovia)
• Pontifical University of Salamanca

Transportation

Castile and León has a good transportation network.

Railways

The region has many railway lines. Important lines connect Madrid to Cantabria and Galicia. The line from Paris to Lisbon also crosses the region. Key railway hubs include Burgos, León, and Valladolid.

Trains operate on different track widths. Most trains are run by Renfe, a national company.

Roads

Two famous ancient routes cross the region:

• The Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) runs from east to west. It is now a popular hiking trail and a motorway.
• The Roman Vía de la Plata (Silver Way) goes through the west of the region. It is now a main road.

Airports

The region has four airports:

• Burgos Airport
• León Airport
• Salamanca Airport
• Valladolid Airport

People also use nearby airports in other regions, like Madrid–Barajas Airport.

Images for kids

• 

  The Castle of Gormaz, once the largest fortress in Europe.

• 

  A gathering at Villalar de los Comuneros, 23 April 1977.

• 

  Another view of the Villalar de los Comuneros gathering in 1977.

• 

  Celebrating Villalar Day in 1985.

See also

In Spanish: Castilla y León para niños

• Castilian-Leonese cuisine
• List of oldest church buildings