🪟 León Cathedral
Spain
About This Sacred Site
The Cathedral of Santa María de León, known as the Pulchra Leonina (Beautiful One of León), is celebrated as the 'House of Light' for its extraordinary collection of medieval stained-glass windows. With nearly 1,800 square meters of stained glass spanning the 13th to 20th centuries, it has more medieval glazing than any other Spanish cathedral. Built in the French Gothic style between the 13th and 14th centuries, its walls are almost entirely glass, creating an ethereal interior of colored light. It is a key stop on the Camino de Santiago.
Key Facts
- •Contains nearly 1,800 square meters of stained glass, including 125 windows and 57 oculi
- •The Gothic structure was built on the site of Roman baths from the 2nd century
- •Known as the Pulchra Leonina for its exceptional beauty
- •The main rose window on the west facade dates to the 13th century
- •Structural problems from the weight of glass required major restoration in the 19th century
Location
Coordinates: 42.5993, -5.5670
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