León Cathedral

Stepping inside León Cathedral is, above all, an experience of light. Here Gothic was taken to its logical conclusion: the walls were pared back to a bare minimum and their place taken by coloured glass, to the point that the cathedral houses one of the largest collections of medieval stained glass in the world. This is what art historians call the 'dematerialisation' of Gothic, and it is rarely understood as clearly as when you watch the stone seem to give way to the glass.

Little wonder, then, that it is known by the nickname Pulchra Leonina, 'the Beauty of León'. Work began in the 13th century, and the result is one of the great creations of the Gothic style on the Iberian Peninsula, with a clear French influence that can be felt in the lightness and verticality of the whole building.

Dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title of Santa María de Regla, the cathedral remains the episcopal seat of the Diocese of León and a fully active place of worship. It also stands right on the Camino de Santiago, making it one of the most memorable stops along the Way of St James for many pilgrims.

Its value was recognised early on: it was the first building in Spain to be declared a monument, by a Royal Order of 28 August 1844, confirmed the following year. It is a fact that helps explain its place in the history of Spanish heritage, and an invitation to explore it at a leisurely pace, letting the light streaming through its stained glass set the rhythm of your visit.