DAY 22 : SPAIN : MANSILLA DE LAS MULARS to LEON - 18.6 kms - 4.5 hours

Distance walked so far in France and Spain : 1197.3 kms

Weather : cold and clear with first frost of the season. -1o - 12o (End of daylight saving)



Destination today : Leon

Breakfast - delicious pastries at a bar in Mansilla.
The end of daylight saving today so we walked in full
daylight from 8 am.

 

First frost of the season. We walked in fairly flat
country until the industrial outskirts of Leon

 

First glimpse of Leon cathedral.
Leon has a population of 130,000. It was originally the base
of the Roman V11 legion, hence the name Leon. It has been
subject to Barbarian and Muslim invasions and in the 10th
century was the seat of the monarchy and the home to many
emerging noble families of northwestern Spain.

 

Friendly locals helping us to find the
cathedral precinct when we lost our way.

 

 

 

The albergue is a Benedictine monastery.
It is in the Plaza de Santa Maria del Camino.
We found some sunny cafes outside the
walls to warm up with a cheap, delicious
lunch.

 

132 beds in male and female dormitories.
Great heating!

 

Interesting architecture around the plaza.

 

The Gothic cathedral (Pulchra Leonina)
was built in the 13th and 14th centuries and
is most famous for its 1800m stained glass
windows. Unfortunately, being Sunday it
was closed but we were able to attend a
6 pm mass and have a peep inside.

 

Leaving mass walking through the cloisters

 

 



M&M

28/10/12