Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Parador de Leon
Facts in brief
Official star rating 5
Location The hotel is located on the banks of Bernesga River
Closest airport Bilbao
Distance from airport About 3 hours' drive from Bilbao
Hotel facilities and services
Restaurant, Bar, Garden, Foreign Exchange, Parking, WiFi, Laundry, Lift.
Out and about nearby
Stained glass windows in Leon's Cathedral, San Isidoro 10th Century Basicila, Gaudi's Casa Botines, the Palacio de los Guzmanes government building, Barrio Humedo and the Museo de Leon. MUSAC is Castille and Leon's Museum of Modern Art and lies 1km from the hotel, Valperquero cave lies at 43km distance, the historical mining site of Las Medulas and the popular, beautiful walking trail of Cares Route are both about 125km away.
Sports nearby
Tennis, Golf (nearest course 5km), Basketball, Country Pursuits including trout fishing, Jet Skiing, River Cruises.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Classic double room for 3 nights
From about
£570 low season
£630 high season
Holiday Code EXH1810
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Parador de Leon
The five star Parador de Leon is a luxury hotel of extraordinary history and stunning architecture found in the centre of Leon. Located on the banks of the Rio Bernesga, the hotel was formerly the 16th Century centre for the Military Order of Saint James, financed by King Ferdinand and containing numerous stately rooms, a cloister and chapter house. Historically the building has been used as a hospital, grain store, and as a prison during the Spanish Civil War, there still remains something undeniably palatial about the exterior and ambience of the grand hotel. Found on the vast and tree edged Plaza de San Marcos, Parador de Leon has rows of windows which are surrounded by beautifully carved pale stone, its roof crowned with a diadem of ornate pillars which rise from the sides of each French balcony. Inside, the decoration remains luxuriously historical with large chandeliers handing from arched ceilings and rich brocade covered furniture. Tapestries and aged portraits hang on the walls, whilst in the 226 rooms soft low lighting and ornately carved, dark wooden furniture adds a romantic appearance. The Restaurante Rey Don Sancho is found in a large stately room and is decorated in a modern, chic style with monochromatic colours. Dishes authentic to Leon are proudly served at the restaurant, giving a taste of history and tradition but with a gourmet edge such salt beef with chestnut and sour fig puree or venison with grape sauce, all paired with a varied and local wine list. The hotel's courtyard garden contains neat and lush boarders and is surrounded by tall archways with a number of ornate statues. Parador de Leon combines an historical ambience with modern luxuries and is ideal for those seeking to explore the history and culture of Leon with its grand cathedral, Basilica de San Isidoro and the MUSAC modern art museum all within 20 minutes' walk from the hotel.
Room descriptions
Parador de Leon has 226 rooms with heating and air-conditioning, satellite TV, laundry service, telephone and minibar.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Classic double room for 3 nights
From about
£570 low season
£630 high season
Holiday Code EXH1810
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Parador de Leon
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to Parador de Leon, Expressions Holidays includes scheduled flights with British Airways from London to Bilbao. Flights may be available from other UK airports with Easyjet or Jet2 for example. If you are combining this hotel with stays elsewhere, you may want to consider flying into one airport and out of another. We can arrange this for you. The hotel is about 3 hours 15 minutes’ drive from the airport and we recommend that we book for you either a private car transfer or a hire-car, depending on the itinerary.
Additional information
Children: Children are welcome and those under 2 years stay for free. For children under 13 years there are special rates when sharing a room with 2 parents.
Other information: Parador de Leon has facilities for guests with disabilities.
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Classic double room for 3 nights
From about
£570 low season
£630 high season
Holiday Code EXH1810
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Parador de Leon
About Green Spain
Green Spain features some of the best four and five star hotels in the regions of Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria in northern Spain, including coastal properties, city hotels and rural retreats. From the pretty rivers on the west coast of Galicia to the spectacular mountains of Asturias and the prehistoric caves of Cantabria, Green Spain is a picturesque area in the north of Spain. With quiet sandy beaches, green landscapes, charming villages and Romanesque architecture lining the famed pilgrimage route which leads to Santiago de Compostela, there is plenty to discover. Although many of those who go on holiday to northern Spain simply pass through en route to Santiago de Compostela, the entire region has much to offer. Stunning beaches are almost untouched, whilst the mild climate has produced rich vegetation which covers unspoilt countryside. Both along the coast and further inland there are attractive cities, towns and villages with a wealth of historical, architectural and cultural sights to discover. Galicia and Asturias have strong cultural identities, both fiercely defending their Celtic traditions which include playing bagpipes, and even speaking their own languages. In the far west is the remote region of Galicia, known as ‘The land of a thousand rivers’ thanks to the numerous wide inlets that run into the sea. The Atlantic coastline is rugged, with rocky headlands, idyllic beaches and isolated fishing villages, whilst the interior is hilly and overwhelmingly green. To the east is the Principality of Asturias, an enchanting region of contrasts with secluded beaches as well as peaceful countryside. Forming a natural barrier in the south are the towering Picos de Europa mountains, a spectacular area with small mountain villages, lush pastures, emerald forests, sheer gorges and glittering lakes. Next is the small, mountainous region of Cantabria, where white sand beaches line the coastline facing the Bay of Biscay, separated by rugged headlands.
Highlights of Green Spain
Santiago de Compostela cathedral, the supposed resting place of St James the Apostle, from whose rooftop you can enjoy unforgettable views over the old town. The attractive Galician cities of Ourense, Pontevedra and Lugo, all with historical sites including Roman architecture. Maritime cities along the Atlantic coastline including A Coruna, Ferrol, Vigo, and Baiona. The Tower of Hercules, an ancient Roman lighthouse near A Coruna. Galicia's fjord-like inlets known as the Rías Altas (along the north-west coast) and the Rías Baixas (along the southwestern coast). The dramatic Cape Finisterre, so called because it was thought to be the westernmost point in Europe. The stunning Picos de Europa mountains, home to a diverse range of walking trails and the atmospheric Covadonga Sanctuary. Oviedo, the attractive capital of Asturias which is home to some remarkable pre-Romanesque churches. Altamira Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with ancient rock paintings which are up to 20000 years old. Comillas, a beachside town with impressive architecture including a building designed by Antonio Gaudí. Pleasant towns along the shores of the Cantabrian Sea including Gijón and Llanes. Santillana del Mar, a picturesque village inland with a number of well-preserved mediaeval buildings. Santander, a lively port city with a historic quarter, a modern centre and the famous El Sardinero beach.
Festivals in Green Spain
February/March: Carnivals celebrating Lent, March: Vigo Reconquest Festival; March/April: Holy week celebrations, July: ‘A Rapa das Bestas’ horse festival held in Galician villages, July: Saint James the Apostle festival in Santiago de Compostela, July: Nava Cider Festival (near Oviedo), August: Festival of San Roque in Betanzos (near A Coruna), August: Santander International Festival.
Gastronomy in Green Spain
Cuisine in the north of Spain tends to be simple and hearty, making good use of the excellent local produce including abundant fish and seafood, plentiful meat and game and a great variety of vegetables. The regions produce a range of dairy products, from the mild soft cheeses of Galicia to the smoked cheese of Cantabria and the blue cheeses of Asturias. Asturias is known for its dry cider, whilst Galicia produces high quality wines, both crisp whites and fruity reds, as well as a strong liqueur, ‘Orujo.’ Local dishes include ‘Vieras de Santiago’ (Scallops, the symbol of St James, which are baked in their shells), ‘Empanada gallega’ (a Galician meat pasty), ‘Lacón con grelos’ (pork shoulder with chorizo, turnips and potatoes), ‘Caldo gallego’ (thick soup with meat, potatoes and beans), ‘Fabada’ (an Asturian stew with pork and beans), ‘Tarta de Santiago’ (an almond cake), ‘La quesada’ (a Cantabrian cheesecake) and ‘Sobaos Pasiegos’ (Cantabrian sponge cakes).
Climate in Green Spain
Green Spain has a wet and mild climate with warm summers and cool winters. Summer is a popular time to visit northern Spain as the weather is sunny yet comfortable, but you can expect good weather in Spring and Autumn as well. Rain falls throughout the year although there is little during the summer months. Temperatures are rarely extreme, although mountainous areas can be very cold in winter with snow falling.
