| Description |
"Leonese wrestling, aluches or luches, is a traditional wrestling style practiced in the province of León (Autonomous Community of Castile and León, Spain). With an area of 6,016 square miles (15,581 km2) and a population of around 460,000, León is located in the northwest interior of the country and has a great diversity of landscapes. This includes the Cantabrian Mountains, the Galician Massif, the lowland of El Bierzo, and a plateau or Meseta Central. It was part of the Kingdom of León (910–1230), where in 1188 the first parliamentary system in Europe was established (UNESCO, 2013). Two main, historical paths cross the province, the Ruta de la Plata (Silver Way), from north to south, and the Camino de Santiago – Camino Francés (Way of St. James – French Way), from east to west. These pilgrimage and trade routes were important elements for the transmission of cultural practices, ideas, or artifacts, from which Leonese culture benefited.
Leonese wrestling, in particular, is rooted in the northeast of the province. It includes two mountainous areas (Central Mountain and Eastern Mountain, both part of the Cantabrian Mountains) and the adjacent flat lands, comprising several districts and the provincial capital—the city of León. In total, this represents approximately 35% of the territory of the province. However, only two zones are mentioned with regard to Leonese wrestling: Montaña (Mountain), which includes all the territory to the north of the León–Bilbao railroad, and Ribera (Bank), to the south of said railroad. Traditionally, bouts between the most prominent Montaña and Rivera wrestlers were followed by the" |
