LEON

See dedicated to San Froilan and Santa Maria de la Blanca.
Date of erection not known.
First known bishop, Basilides, 252 A.D.
During Arab invasion, see existed on and off.
First stone of present cathedral laid in 1199.
The building did not begin until 1250; terminated end of XIVth century.
XIIth century French ogival.
Vaulting above croisée fell down in 1631.
Southern front rebuilt in 1694.[{373}]
Whole cathedral partly ruined in 1743.
Closed to public by government in 1850.
Reopened in 1901.
Total length, 300 feet; width, 130 feet; height of nave, 100 feet.
Height of northern tower, 211 feet; of southern, 221 feet.
Length of each side of cloister, 97 feet.
Chief attractions: The ensemble, windows, choir-stalls, cloister.