Burgos

Burgos is in the province of Burgos in the Castile and Leon region of Spain.

Burgos was once the capital of the Castile and Leon region of Spain and is steeped in history. It grew wealthy  in the 15th and 16th centuries as a result of the wool trade and spent a lot of money on fine art and architecture.

Burgos cathedral is Spain's third largest cathedral and is Burgos' main attraction. Its fortified gate, the Arco de Santa Maria, and Burgos' two monasteries are the main sights.

Visit Burgos, Spain

Approaching the old town from the Santa Maria bridge and you pass through the wonderful Arco de Santa Maria. This heavily castellated gateway is decorated with statues of various  important Burgos residents.

Burgos main site - its  cathedral - is built  in the gothic style and has lots of outstanding features. One of its chapels is the setting for the tomb of El Cid who was born just to the north of Burgos. Its colossal size means that it can be seen from all over Burgos. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Arco de Santa Maria, Burgos

Close to the cathedral is the 15th century San Nicolas church which has a very fine altarpiece.

On the outskirts of Bugos is the beautiful Monasterio de la Huelgas, a mix of Gothic, Mudejar, Romanesque and Renaissance architecture. This monastery was one of the most powerful in Spain in its day.  It contains the tombs of 16 kings, queens and nobles, and its museum contains the magnificent jewellery etc that were found in the tombs. Don't miss the cloisters, Las Claustrillas, which has some lovely Mudejar decoration.

Another monastery, the Catuja de Miraflores, is also worth a visit. This sits to the east of Burgos and contains three masterpieces by Gil de Siloé. His alterpiece is gilded using some of the first gold to be brought back from the  New World.

The ruins of Burgos castle stand on a hill overlooking the city and offering great views.

 

Burgos, Arco de Santa Maria

Museums in Burgos

The Museo de Burgos, the museum of Burgos contains archealogical finds from Clunia.

Burgos Area

Near to Burgos is the Monastery of San Pedro de Cardena where El Cid took his family when he was exiled by Alfonso VI.