The Antigua (Leon)

La Antigua is a Spanish municipality and town in the province of León, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León. It has a population of 333 inhabitants (INE 2022). The municipality includes the population centers of La Antigua, Audanzas del Valle, Cazanuecos, Grajal de Ribera and Ribera de la Polvorosa.

It is an agricultural municipality and has a fish canning industry, mainly smoked salmon, called La Balinesa, built in the old La Antigua mill. The festivities are celebrated on September 8 and 9 in honor of the nativity of Mary. It belonged to the old Jurisdiction of Laguna de Negrillos.

House consistorial

Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua

Side Bell in the Church

Physical geography

La Antigua is located in the Páramo region, in the south of the province of León, at an altitude of 750 ms. no. m. (the capital). Its municipal area limits to the north with Zotes del Páramo, Laguna de Negrillos and Roperuelos del Páramo, to the south with Pozuelo del Páramo, San Adrián del Valle, Matilla de Arzón (Zamora) and Villaquejida, to the east with Laguna de Negrillos, Villamandos and Villaquejida, and to the west with Pozuelo del Páramo and Roperuelos del Páramo.

Northwest: Páramo Roperuelos	North: Zotes del Páramo, Laguna de Negrillos y Roperuelos del Páramo	Northeast: Laguna de Negrillos
West: Pozuelo del Páramo and Roperuelos del Páramo		This: Laguna de Negrillos, Villamandos and Villaquejida
Southwest Villamandos and Laguna de Negrillos	South: Pozuelo del Páramo, San Adrián del Valle, Matilla de Arzón (Zamora) and Villaquejida	Sureste: Villamandos and Villaornate and Castro

Orography

Located in the Páramo of León, the relief of the municipality is horizontal, only interrupted by isolated hills. The highest area of the municipality is irrigated by the waters of the Barrios de Luna reservoir, while the lower area is cultivated under a dryland regime. The geodesic vertex of Moriscos is located in the municipal area, at an altitude of 810 m s. no. m., and located in the center of the municipality.

Hydrography

La Antigua is bathed by several streams and smaller rivers that flow into the Esla River or the Órbigo River.

Human Geography

Demographics

Graphic of demographic evolution of La Antigua between 1842 and 2021

Rule population (1842-1991, except 1857 and 1860 which is a de facto population) or resident population (2001-2011) according to the Population Censuses since 1842.Population according to the municipal register of 2021 of the INE.

Communications

Roads

The municipality is connected to the road network through the LE-412 road. Following this road southeast there is a link to the high capacity network to the A-66.

Air transportation

The nearest airport is León, which came into service in 1999, located 51 kilometers from La Antigua.