 León is a province with a rich heritage that stretches from the first faltering human footsteps to the confidence of a modern society eager to face the challenges of the twenty first century.
Historical indications would suggest that in the year 68 A.D. the Romans founded a military colony in the place that is now the city of León. This legion was given the name of Legio Septima Gemina. From Legio (acc. legionem), and in accordance with the nature of the Romance-Castilian language, the name León was derived. The identity of this name with the king of the animals (león, from leo, acc. leonem) may explain how the lion came to be associated with both the province and the city León.
Chroniclers show that, as early as the third century, Christianity must have been a dominant religious belief. With the fall of the Roman Empire and the Germanic invasions the imperial garrisons were destroyed and the roman legions dispersed and Christianity took firm root amongst the local population.
In the eighth century A.D. the city of León fell to the Muslim invaders but wasn’t held by them for long and it was soon reconquered by Alfonso I, the Catholic. Destroyed a second time by Muslim forces in the time of Abderahman II (846), it was again retaken and rebuilt by Ordoño I (850-866), who erected there a royal residence which was later to be transformed into the cathedral.
 However, as the Spanish Court remained at Oviedo during this time, León remained of secondary importance until García, son of Alfonso III, took León as his capital city and base of power. García died early (914) and Galicia subsequently became united with León.
After further royal divisions and power struggles between Christians and Muslim forces, Ordoño II founded the cathedral of León (914-24) and León became the principal Christian state in Western Spain.
The Province of Leon is bounded on the north by the Asturias; to the east by the Provinces of Santander and Valladolid; to the south by that of Zamora and on the west by Galicia. The Cantabrian Mountains to the north provide a natural boundary from Galicia and to the east and south the natural frontiers continue in the form of either mountain ranges or river courses separating it from the neighbouring Province of Valladolid.
The province is, for the most part, located on the great Castilian plateau at more than 1600 feet above the sea level. To the north it rises towards the Cantabrian Mountains. It is drained by the River Sil towards its southern boundary.
 Because of its abundant natural resources León has always been an attraction for civilizations whose demands increased as the complexity of their society evolved. Important coal reserves are located in the carboniferous formations and there are also iron, copper and cobalt mines, a feature that gives rise to an abundance of waters rich in mineral content.
Its position on the high Castillian plain means that the local climate varies considerably — cold in the mountains of the north, warm in the lowlands of the south-east; bitter cold in winter and furnace hot in summer.
Agriculturally, the variety is tremendous. In common with other provinces and communities of the high Castillian plain, one of the main crops is wheat but other cereals and pulses are grown in abundance. The many forests that cover the high ground are composed principally by beech and oak and, because of the ease with which livestock can be raised; there is more than a million head of cattle, sheep and pigs.
With the advent of the modern society, the province is now criss-crossed with high quality motorways that have ensured the opening of the country, not only to industry but to all the products and services associated with tourism.
Historically, León has played a crucial role in the development of modern Spain. Many of the populations that now people the peninsula had their roots here. Now, with modern communications and a population that looks to the future, León continues to be a driving force for change.
More information:
http://www.turismocastillayleon.com
http://www.vivaleon.com
http://www.dipuleon.es
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