Lleida

Lleida is a city in western Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Lleida and of the Segrià comarca, situated on the left bank of the Segre River and at the foot of the hill that houses its historic core.

The old town centers on La Seu Vella, a fortress-cathedral complex dating from the medieval period that dominates the skyline. The surrounding area preserves a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture, reflecting Lleida’s long urban history.

With around 140,000 inhabitants in the city, Lleida serves as a regional hub for agriculture, especially fruits and vegetables from the Segrià plain, as well as commerce and services. The city is home to the University of Lleida (UdL), a public university that provides higher education across multiple disciplines.

Transport connections include the A-2 and other regional roads, as well as Lleida Pirineus railway station on the Barcelona–Zaragoza line. Lleida-Alguaire Airport serves the region with occasional passenger flights, enhancing connectivity to broader markets.

Catalan is the predominant language in daily life, with Spanish widely used as well. The name of the city reflects this linguistic heritage: Lleida is the Catalan form, while Ilerda is its Latin antecedent and Lérida the Spanish variant.

Overall, Lleida functions as a cultural and educational center in western Catalonia and a gateway to the surrounding countryside and the Pyrenean foothills.