Where Is Castile? The Historic Heart of Spain

Castile (Spanish: Castilla) is a **historical region** constituting the central plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. It is not a current administrative unit but defines Spain's core identity.

Geographic Extent

• North-Central Iberia: Meseta Central (high plateau, 600–800 m elevation).
• Bordered by: Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country (N); Aragon (NE); Valencia, Murcia (E); Andalusia (S); Extremadura (SW); Madrid (center, carved out 1983).

Two Subregions

*Madrid is now its own autonomous community.

Historical Significance

• **Reconquista** core — frontier "castles" (castillos) give the name.
• **Union with Aragon** (1469) → Spain.
• **Language:** Castilian Spanish originated here; became national language.
• **El Cid** (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar), Isabella I, Charles V — Castilian monarchs.

Today

Split between autonomous communities: **Castile and León** (Old Castile), **Castile-La Mancha** (New Castile minus Madrid), **Community of Madrid**. But "Castile" remains a powerful cultural, linguistic, and historical concept.