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Castile and León

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Template:Autonomous community Castile and León (Castilian: Castilla y León), known formally as the Autonomous Community of Castile and León is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. Its territory corresponds to the historical region of León and most of the historical region of Old Castile (Castilian: Castilla la Vieja). The autonomous community of Castile and León is the largest in Spain and almost in the European Union. It covers an area of 94,223 km² with an official population of 2.5 million (2005).

Charter of the Curia Regis, 1188

The tradition of the Regional Courts of Castile and León is traced back to the Royal Council (Latin: Curia Regis) of León (1188). The Leonese Curia Regis was a king's summons of the estates of the realm. Although the practical outcome of the Curia Regis of 1188 is still disputed, its charter seems to be an early movement towards the rule of constitutional law, much like the Magna Carta.

Main Political Parties

Parties with parliamentary representation in Castilla y León:

Other Political Parties:

Political Youths:

Geography

Castile and León borders on Asturias and Cantabria to the north, Aragon, the Basque Country, and La Rioja to the east, the autonomous community of Madrid and Castile-La Mancha to the southeast, Extremadura to the south, and on Portugal and Galicia to the west.

Castile and León roughly overlaps with the Spanish part of the Douro River basin, on the northern half of the Meseta Central, a vast plateau in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula. It also extends to some adjoining valleys, such as El Bierzo (León) and many secluded mountain valleys: Laciana (León), Valle de Mena (Burgos), Valle del Tiétar (Ávila), etc.

Road Communications

The region is the land communication hub of northern Spain. It is crossed by the International E-road E80. This is the main road connection between Portugal and the rest of Europe.

Castilla and León is also crossed by two major ancient routes:

  • The Way of St. James (Spanish: Camino de Santiago), now a hiking trail and a motorway, from East to West.
  • The roman Via Lata (Spanish: Vía de la Plata), now a main road, through the West of the region.

Airports

The last years have seen a vast improvement in accesibility from the rest of Europe, mainly through the operations of low-cost airlines at the airport of Villanubla (Valladolid). There are there others airports in Castile and León: Virgen del Camino (León), Salamanca and Burgos. The main airport of the neighbouring region of Madrid (Barajas) are close as well, if not yet with a direct communication through public transportation.

Regional Administration and Government

Castile and León is divided into nine provinces: Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Segovia, Soria, Salamanca, Valladolid and Zamora. All these provinces are homonym of their respective provincial capitals.

Although the Statute of Autonomy for Castile and Leon does not specify any city to be the capital of the autonomous community, the city of Valladolid serves that purpose in certain contexts, and is the city of residence for the Regional Executive, the Courts, and several other important arms of the regional parliament and government.

Autonomous Executive

The executive of Castile and León is known as the Junta de Castilla y León in Spanish.

It has one head of the Regional Executive (Spanish: Presidente de la Junta) and twelve departments: Two Vicepresidencias and ten ministries (Spanish: Consejerías).

Regional Legislature

The Regional Courts of Castile and León (Spanish: Cortes de Castilla y León) is the elected legislature of the Autonomous Community.

  • The provisional home of the legislature is the Castle of Fuensaldaña, near Valladolid. A new parliament building is being constructed in Valladolid.

Regional Judicature

Other regional bodies

Ombudsman

The Ombudsman of Castile and León (Spanish: Procurador del Común) is appointed by the Regional Courts.

  • Seat of the Ombudsman of Castile and León: León

Consultive Committee

The Consultive Committee of Castile and León (Spanish: Consejo Consultivo) is a group of five legal analysts. They are appointed by the Regional Courts and the Junta. The Committee delivers reports on legal issues both to the Regional Government and to incumbent municipal governments.

  • Seat of the Consultive Committee: Zamora

Education

Universities

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

There are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Castile and León:

See also

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