Cathedral of Leon

The cathedral was built on the site of the old Romanesque cathedral, the remains of the Palace of Ordoño II and the Roman baths. Building commenced in 1205. The cathedral is Gothic in style and draws its inspiration from the cathedral of Rheims, with a floor plan reduced from the original by 1/3.

A peculiar characteristic is that the towers appear to be separated from the central naves by flying buttresses. The cathedral is laid out in three naves that become five at the transept. The nave is closed off by a quadripartite rib vault. Vertical forces rest on pillars with fine columns and the exterior stresses are born by flying buttresses. It has an ambulatory with five semi-hexagonal naves at the end.

Architects

The following architects worked on the cathedral at different periods and with greater or lesser degrees of involvement: Enrique Francés, Juan Pérez, Jusquin Van Utrech (Clock Tower), Naveda, Joaquín de Churriguera, Matías Laviña, Juan Madrazo, Demetrio de los Ríos, Juan Bautista Lázaro.

FACADES

The cathedral has three facades with Gothic imagery.

The West Front.

The Door of the White Virgin, also called the Final Judgement: consists of two entrances, one with an image of the White Virgin on the mullion. The White Virgin (Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, Our Lady of the Snow, a popular patron on the Way of Saint James), replaces the figure of Christ in Majesty or Christ the Teacher. The tympanum shows the Final Judgement, presided over by Christ the Judge, images of St. John the Baptist, angels with symbols of the Passion, St. Michael weighing souls, etc.

The Door of St John shows scenes from the life of the Virgin and Jesus Christ: The Visitation, Nativity, Dream of St. Joseph, Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi. The jambs show images of St. Peter, St. John, David and Solomon, Locus Appellationis (place where the king sat to mete out justice), female image of Justice.

The Door of St Francis shows images of the Assumption of Mary, Coronation of Mary by the Eternal Father, the Wise and Foolish Virgins.

South Face:

Door of St. Froilán: inspired by the Sacramental Door of the Cathedral of Burgos, it shows the Twelve Apostles presided over by Jesus Christ and an image of the Four Evangelists and St. Froilán, patron saint of the Diocese of Leon.

North Face:

Door of the Virgen del Dado: has traces of the original paintwork, images of the Christ the King and the Four Evangelists, and the Visitation.

INTERIOR

The Cathedral interior is a summation of medieval concepts and beliefs about the world, presided over by the Creator’s Blessing. The stained-glass windows are based on three conceptual levels:

1. Images of plants commonly found in Leon, oak leaves, vine leaves, etc.
2. Heraldry (windows in the clerestory).
3. Images of the Saints, Kings and Prophets.

Retrochoir:

Designed in the form of a triumphal arch and built in the 16th century. Subject: Birth of the Virgin Mary, Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi (Esteban Jordán), St. Peter and St. Paul, St. Marcellus and St. Isidor, image of the Annunciation in alabaster and of Christ Crucified, by Gaspar Becerra.

Choir:

Divided into two parts:

King’s Choir,

Bishop’s Choir.

Built in the Gothic style in the 15th c. Designed and built by Jusquin van Utrech, Copin of Holland and Juan de Malinas.

Altar Mayor:

Five large and two small panels, the work of Nicolás Francés, the Bishop’s Throne, 20 panels by the same artist, the Arca Repujada (1519), by Enrique de Arfe, and the Silver Tabernacle, by Rebollo.

Cloister:

A mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles. The stone altarpiece was constructed by Juan de Badajoz el Mozo; there is also a relief of Nuestra Señora del Foro y Oferta, Tributo de las Cien Doncellas.

Chapels:

• Saint Luisa: Baptismal font, by Juan Badajoz.
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel, of the school of Gregorio Fernández. Sepulchre of Bishop Rodrigo.
• Chapel of Calvary: Altarpiece of Calvary, by Juan de Balmaseda.
• Chapel of the White Virgin: Sepulchres of Sancha and Alfonso (16th c.).
• Chapel of the Our Lady of the Way: Old Cathedral Library. built in the 15th century in the Gothic style, with a starred vault, by Juan de Badajoz el Viejo.