Happy TravellerWelcome to Burgos, a historic city located in the Castile and León region of Spain. With a population of around 180,000, Burgos is the capital and most populated municipality of the province of Burgos. The city is situated in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, on the confluence of the Arlanzón river tributaries, at the edge of the central plateau. Burgos is a city steeped in history, with a rich cultural heritage and a wealth of attractions to explore.
One of the most famous landmarks in Burgos is the Cathedral of Burgos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Construction on the Gothic cathedral began in 1221 and spanned mainly from the 13th to 15th centuries. The Cathedral is the resting place for El Cid (the famous knight from Medieval Spain’s history) and his wife Dona Jimena. The west front is flanked by towers terminating in octagonal spires covered with open stonework traceries. The middle section, which serves as an entrance, has three alabaster pilasters, the intercolumnar spaces bearing panel-pictures representing the martyrdom of saints. The façade possesses ornate and fantastic surface decoration.
Another notable attraction is the Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales (Monastery of the Royal Retreats) on the outskirts of the city, which was founded in 1180 by king Alfonso VIII. The remarkable cloisters have been described as unrivalled for beauty both of detail and design, and perhaps unsurpassed by anything in its age and style in any part of Europe. One cloister has semicircular arches with delicate and varied columns; the other has an ogival style of early Gothic. The interior of the church has enormous columns supporting its magnificent vault; the entrance is modern. This convent historically benefited from extraordinary privileges granted to its abbess by kings and popes.
The Carthusian monastery, Miraflores Charterhouse (Cartuja de Miraflores) is situated about four kilometres from the historic city center. Among the treasures of the Charterhouse are the wooden statue of St. Bruno, the wooden choir stalls in the church and the tombs of King Juan II and of his spouse, Queen Isabella of Portugal, constructed of marble and with their recumbent effigies sculpted in alabaster. Around the top frieze are statues of angels in miniature. The French soldiers in the Spanish War of Independence (1814) mutilated this work, cutting off some of the heads and carrying them away to France. King Juan II’s daughters by his first wife, heiresses Princesses Catherine and Eleanor of Asturias, are also buried in the monastery.
Burgos is also home to the Museum of Human Evolution, which was inaugurated on 13 July 2010. Its foundation is based on the archeological site of Atapuerca located 20 km (12 mi) east of Burgos. The Atapuerca site has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains several caves, where fossils and stone tools of the earliest known hominids in West Europe have been found, near Atapuerca Mountains. The museum also allows the visitor to travel to the archaeological site and biological park.
Aside from its cultural attractions, Burgos is also known for its gastronomy. The city was selected as the Spanish Gastronomy Capital of 2013 and in 2015 UNESCO named it City of Gastronomy. Burgos is famous for its Morcilla de Burgos, a type of blood sausage, as well as its roast lamb and other meat dishes. The city also has a thriving wine industry, with several wineries in the surrounding area producing high-quality wines.
Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or food and wine, Burgos has something to offer everyone. So why not plan a trip to this enchanting city and discover its many treasures for yourself?
