Burgos Spain Open the left burgos menu. Ticket prices

Spain attracts not only with its Mediterranean coast, but also with many interesting places in the center of the country. Since at different times the state was inhabited by a large number of different nationalities (from the Moors to the Greeks and ancient Romans), the area is rich in their heritage. This has many attractions, such as medieval castles and cathedrals, the description of which attracts tourists and travelers.

Among all the Spanish cities can be distinguished small Burgos, which is located in the northern part of the country. Famous for its cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and an old castle.

Important!Bulgaria has a resort with a similar name - Burgas, you need to pay attention to this so as not to get confused.

Burgos on a map of Spain

Burgos (Spain) is a self-governing municipality, part of the autonomous society of Castile. The population is more than 180 thousand inhabitants, this is the 37th place in Spain. The city was built as a strategic object in case of war, when back in the 9th century a castle was built here for defensive purposes against Muslim attacks.

Castilians live in the city - this is the traditional population of an autonomous society, they are considered a bit closed and religious. The official language of communication is Spanish. The city is far from the coasts, so they come here not for sea holidays, but mainly to admire the ancient architecture and other attractions.

Castile and Lyon - the community in which the locality is located has a rich history and traditions. Local people are very religious, so many churches and cathedrals were built on the territory.

The area is beautiful: in the north are the Cantabrian mountains, which lovers will like to climb the rocks, and in the south rises the Central Cordillera - a mountain range that runs through almost the entire central part of the country. Burgos itself is built on a plain, there are no elevation differences in the city, so walking along it and sightseeing is a pleasure.

Location of Burgos on a map of Spain

Temperature and weather

The continental climate prevails in Burgos, it is dry. Summer is hot and winters are relatively cool compared to the southern Mediterranean coast. In winter, the temperature can drop below zero, and in summer it can reach 35 degrees Celsius. The active tourist season begins in early May and lasts until mid-October.

Important!  In the summer months, a siesta is accepted in the city, so many establishments close at lunchtime.

Monthly average temperature:

  • january - 2.7 ° C;
  • february - 4.1 ° C;
  • march - 6.5 ° C;
  • april - 7.9 ° C;
  • may - 11.5 ° C;
  • june - 15.3 ° C;
  • july - 18.7 ° C;
  • august - 18.9 ° C;
  • september - 15.6 ° C;
  • october - 10.9 ° C;
  • november - 6.5 ° C;
  • december - 4.1 ° C.

Landmarks of Burgos, Spain

The Cathedral of Our Lady - the main attraction of the city and the whole country, is included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage since 1984. The construction of the cathedral began in 1221, and it was completed only in the 16th century, when chapels and facade spiers were completed for the construction. The object was built in the style of Spanish Gothic, is an example of the construction of temples and church buildings for the entire Spanish-speaking world, many buildings in Latin America were built according to its model.

The decree on the construction of the cathedral was issued by the Castilian king Ferdinand III, on the site where the Romanesque cathedral was previously located. It began with the construction of the altar and its consecration in 1260, after which the work was frozen for 200 years. The official date for the completion of construction is considered to be 1567, when a spire was erected over the main part. The main facade is turned westward and is dedicated to the Mother of God, and the southern facade, which is the oldest, has the image of Christ surrounded by angels and apostles. To the east of the building are located the apse made in the Renaissance, the construction of which was completed in the XV-XVI centuries.

The cathedral is known for being the burial place of the country's national hero - Sid Compreador, who was buried in 1919. Since 2007, a sword belonging to Sid has been placed here. The sword has the name Tyson and is the pride of the entire Spanish people.

In 2012, the cathedral was awarded the image on a commemorative coin in denomination of 2 euros, issued in the amount of 8 million pieces.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Burgos

Burgos Castle is a fortress built in the Middle Ages to protect it from the Moors - Muslim immigrants from Africa, who at that time attacked Spanish settlements and colonized most of the country.

The fortification was built on the hill of San Miguel, at an altitude of 75 meters above the city level. Construction was completed in 884, supervised by his Count Diego Rodriguez. Previously, old fortifications were located here, after which it was decided to build new ones. It was planned as a construction for defense against enemies, but almost immediately lost its significance and turned into a prison for keeping prisoners, and later into a tourist attraction. The architect who built it - Alfonso of Castile - originally designed and executed the castle in the Mudejar style.

With the advent of King Enrique IV in the 15th century, the castle was redesigned and rebuilt into a palace, a chapel was built and the area of \u200b\u200bliving quarters was increased. In 1739, the castle was badly damaged by a fire, and in 1813 it was captured by English troops under the command of Arthur Wesley Wellington.

Burgos Castle on the hill of San Miguel

In the 1930s, during the Civil War in Spain, the castle was almost completely destroyed, but after the Second World War the authorities decided to restore it. Now the castle accepts tourists, has the status of a museum of history.

Note!  The castle is also known for the fact that under it there is a large network of dug tunnels into which tourists and travelers are allowed.

In the tourist sites of the city you can buy a tour at any office or book in advance when buying a tour. Since Burgos is not a very big city, getting to the sights on your own is not difficult.

Tips and tricks from experienced tourists and travelers when visiting Burgos

For those who are planning to visit Burgos for the first time, you can advise the following:

  • When planning a visit to Burgos, you should not stay here for more than a couple of days, during this time you can have time to inspect everything, then it will be boring.
  • You can rent a car at one of the rental offices and drive to see Castile, which also has many cities with interesting sights.
  • Choosing a nice cafe or restaurant, you need to consider that breakfast will be possible only closer to dinner, since many establishments open no earlier than 11 hours.
  • The Spaniards vigorously show their feelings, they like to communicate loudly and greet each other, you should be prepared for this.
  • When visiting cathedrals and churches, it is recommended to follow the dress code, as women in short dresses and men in shorts may not be allowed into the territory.
  • You should definitely take a walk along the central and ancient streets.
  • For photo enthusiasts, when visiting the castle, go down a little lower to the observation deck, you can make beautiful shots there, and a park is laid out nearby, where locals like to relax.
  • In souvenir shops for good memories, it is recommended to buy thimbles with images of the cathedral and the castle.

Burgos - a tourist-attractive city in the north of Spain, ideal for lovers to visit and see the sights and take a walk along the old streets. The city is small, a few days are enough to inspect it, after which you can go further to get acquainted with the country. The Cathedral of Our Lady and the Burgos Castle are a must to visit and are objects of pride and heritage for the entire Spanish population.

The Gothic cathedral in Burgos was completed in the 16th century, although its construction by order of King Ferdinand III and Bishop Mauricio began three centuries earlier. The construction was carried out on the site of a former Romanesque temple.

The Latin cross-shaped cathedral is 84 m long and 59 m wide. Its earliest structures are apse and presbytery, later there were naves, middle crosses, side chapels, cloister. The temple is divided into a wide nave, a central and two side naves.

The main portal of the western entrance is named after the Mother of God. All iconography here is associated with the glorification of Mary. The southern portal is called the Holy Gates, which is decorated with statues of Christ with angels. The northern portal is called the Gate of the 12 Apostles.

In the XV century, immigrants from Germany worked on the cathedral, who brought the Gothic style to Castile.

The cathedral is famous for the grave of the Spanish national hero Sid Campeador and his wife, Doña Jimena, in 1919. Also in the temple is the sword of Tyson, which belonged to Sid.

Peñafiel Castle

Peñafiel Castle is currently the Museum of Spanish Wines.

Penafiel means “Faithful Rock” in Spanish, but this statement was not justified - by the 19th century only ruins remained from the fortress. During the XIX - XX centuries, restoration work took place here. Unfortunately, the interior of the fortress was not saved, so the present palace was restored with the help of modern materials.

Art historians do not consider this an authentic restoration, but, nevertheless, the castle makes a strong impression - an impressive citadel, a symbolic monument to the tragic history of the Spanish land, hovers over a place like a white cloud. After restoration in Penafiel, the owners of the castle founded the Museum of Spanish Wines, in which each visitor will be able to taste the best brands of wines and purchase the ones they like.

And what sights of Burgos did you like? Next to the photo area there are icons, by clicking on which you can evaluate this or that place.

Rope House

Rope House (Casa del Cordon Palace) was built in the 15th century in the historical center of Burgos. The portal of the door is made in the form of a rope, outwardly similar to the belt of a Franciscan monk. The house is known for meeting Columbus with Isabella and Ferdinand after his expedition to America.

The building was built by John Cologne with his son Simon, who completed the construction of the palace. The palace has significant dimensions and two Gothic arches. The main entrance is located on the south facade, and the gardens are located closer to the east of the facade.

Rope House has always been the scene of important political events. Here Columbus met with the kings, the wedding of Prince Juan, the son of Ferdinand and Isabella, took place here, and other events took place here.

The first large-scale reconstruction of the building took place in 1906, the further were carried out between 1983 and 1987.

Now in the House of Ropes there is a concert hall for choral music and piano performances.

Hernilos de Serrato is a castle built in the 16th century, which was created half from hewn white stone, and part of the structure is made of natural stone.

The castle is located 30 kilometers from Palencia and stands on a small hill with a view of the picturesque village. Currently, the building is in ruined condition, although the main structures of the castle to this day have been well preserved. Two rounded towers, two parts of load-bearing walls and part of the eastern wall look best.

Despite the fact that the castle resembles ruins, interesting architectural fragments can still be observed here: pieces of paintings made of glass and medieval ceramics, as well as an original arched opening in the north wall.

The last owner of the fortress of Hernilos de Serrato was the Marquis of San Vincente, who lived in the middle of the XVIII century.

Gate of Santa Maria

The city gates of the Virgin Mary, originally built in the XIV century and representing a simple arch, connect the Virgin Mary Bridge on the Arlanson River with St. Ferdinand Square. In the next century, the gates were completely rebuilt by Juan Bayejo and Francisco de Colonia. The arch of the XIV century is mentioned in the Spanish anonymous heroic epic of the XII-XIII century "Song of my Side."

The gates were built in the form of a triumphal arch with an altar with stones and a toothed end, giving the monument even more originality. In the niches of the gate are sculptures of famous personalities of Burgos and Spain (judges of Castile Rasur and Calvo, founding counts of Burgos Porselos and Gonzalez, Emperor Charles I). Below them are the less significant personalities of Spain. Crowns the gate with the figure of the patron saint of Burgos, Virgin Mary, made by the sculptor Ochoa de Arteaga.

Now at the gates of the Virgin Mary regularly hosts exhibitions for all visitors.

The most popular sights in Burgos with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places of Burgos on our website.

Individual and group

In the city of Burgos, Spain // sxizma.livejournal.com


Let's start a walk in Burgos from the beginning. That is, from the place on which the city was founded - from a large green hill just north of the historical center. There in 884, Count of Castile Diego Rodriguez Porselos founded the fortress.

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Actually, in the photo above it is the same fortress, but not quite it. The old castle did not survive to this day: it was repeatedly taken by attack, fires occurred in it, it was restored ... But it was most affected during the occupation of Spain by Napoleon: in 1813, leaving his castle, which served them as a powder warehouse, his French troops blew up. The castle was restored relatively recently (I won’t give an exact date, sclerosis, but in the 1960s it still stood in ruins) and is now open for tourists. And around it is a large park, where both tourists and locals relax.

A little lower on the hillside is an observation deck:

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Helsinki, they are almost as far away as the North Pole, yes :-)

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The viewing parapet has an interesting parapet: on the railing are depicted monuments of Burgos architecture, which are best seen from this place and their names are signed. Right in front of us is the cathedral.

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Church of St. Esteban in Burgos, Spain // sxizma.livejournal.com


Sorry, I got out crooked.

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And here he is, the Cathedral of St. Mary. Handsome, right? To make sure, go around him.

Cathedral of St. Mary of Burgos, Spain // sxizma.livejournal.com


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This is not part of the cathedral, but a small square near it (from the side of the hill)

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We leave on the square named in honor of King Fernando Saint. By the way, it was with this king in 1221 that the construction of the cathedral began. Burgos Cathedral is one of Spain's oldest Gothic cathedrals. And one of the largest is the third largest after the Gothic cathedrals of Seville and Toledo.

Saint King Fernando Square in Burgos, Spain // sxizma.livejournal.com


The cathedral was built on the site of a small Romanesque church. Here are two layouts for comparison:

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It was (Romanesque church)

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It has become (Gothic cathedral). There, by the way, I loom in the background))

Mock-ups and many other interesting and beautiful things can be seen in the cathedral itself. Let's go inside?

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April 18th, 2012, 10:56 pm

Until recently, I heard that in Spain and Bulgaria there are almost cities of the same name - either Burgos or Burgas. And over the past year, by chance (because of the fog in Sofia), I have visited both of these cities, and now I know: in Bulgaria - BurgAs, and in Spain - Burgos ...


r. Arlanson (Arlanzon)

Burgos stands on the Arlanson River. The historical center is located on the north coast.


r. Arlanson (Arlanzon)

And in the east of the city lies Fuentes Blancas Park, whose main attraction is the Cartesian monastery of Miraflores.


The Order of the Carthusians was founded by the monk Bruno of Cologne (1030-1101). In 1084 in the Alps, not far from Grenoble, he created his own monastery - the Great Chartresa, by the name of which he became known as the Order.


Bruno de Cologne

This monastery of the Cartesians was founded by King Juan II of Castile in 1441. In 1452 the building burned down, and the current monastery was built in 1454-84.


Cartesian Monastery Miraflores (Cartuja de Miraflores)

The magnificent altar was made by the sculptor Gil de Siloe in 1496-99, and paints were painted by the artist Diego de la Cruz.


Cartesian Monastery Miraflores (Cartuja de Miraflores)

You can come close to the altar to view the skillful work.


Cartesian Monastery Miraflores (Cartuja de Miraflores)

In the center of the nave is the tomb of King Juan II of Castile (1405-54) and his wife, Queen Isabella of Portugal (1428-96). The work was ordered by their daughter - Isabella the Catholic. The author was the same Gil de Siloe. The tomb is made in the Gothic style of alabaster in the shape of an 8-pointed star. In 2006, a study of the remains was carried out - it is interesting that the king’s skeleton was preserved almost completely, and only a few bones remained from the queen.


Tomb of Juan II and Isabella of Portugal ( Sepulcro de Juan II e Isabel de Portugal)

Also, the monastery is decorated with beautiful paintings.


Cartesian Monastery Miraflores (Cartuja de Miraflores)

Medieval Burgos had 12 gates. We have reached the arch of Santa Maria, built in the XIV-XV centuries. and then remade from white limestone in 1536-53. In the niches of the arch you can see the figures of people. The centerpiece is Diego Rodriguez Porselos.


Arch of St. Mary (Arco de Santa Maria)

It is Diego Rodriguez who is considered the founder of the city. It happened in 884.


Burgos

The name Burgos most likely comes from the Latin word burgus - tower.


Paloma street (Calle de la Paloma)

The main asset of the city is the Gothic cathedral. It is the only Spanish cathedral that is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is so large that in one frame I could not fit in any way.


Red posters are visible on the wall. At first I thought that Pope Benedict XVI was calling for some kind of religious revolution. But it turned out that these are two separate banners, and “R-evolution” was the slogan of Burgos’s candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture - 2016. The symbolic letters “R” could be seen everywhere.


Burgos Cathedral (Catedral de Burgos)

The construction of the cathedral began in 1221 by decree of King Castile Ferdinand III on the site of the former Romanesque cathedral. The altar was consecrated in 1260, after which construction work was not carried out for 200 years.


Burgos Cathedral (Catedral de Burgos)

The completion of the cathedral dates back to 1567, when the spire over the main ceiling was completed.


Burgos Cathedral (Catedral de Burgos)

The temple has several altars.


Burgos Cathedral (Catedral de Burgos)

In the cathedral there is a place for masterpieces of painting. For example, the work of a student of Leonardo da Vinci - Dzhampetrino - "Magdalene". Remembering the altovian “Story of an art historian” - this Maria Magdalen (unlike the work of El Greco) repents somehow unconvincingly and without a twinkle.


Magdalena

And in the courtyard there was a place for contemporary art.


Burgos Cathedral (Catedral de Burgos)

There are several tombs in the cathedral. In 1921, the Spanish national hero El Cid and his wife Jimena were reburied here.


Burgos Cathedral (Catedral de Burgos)

Here is the legendary sword of El Sid - Tyson. After the death of the great warrior, the sword was with the king of Aragon, and in 1516 it was received by the Marquis de Falces for devotional service. According to legend, de Falces instead of the palace and lands chose the sword of El Sid. Far more cunning was the last owner of Tyson - the Marquis Jose Ramon Suarez del Otero, who in 2007 pushed the sword to the government of Castile and Leon for 1.6 million euros. Moreover, many experts believe that its market value is only about 200-300 thousand euros, because there is no certainty that this is the sword of El Sid. Analysis of the metal showed that the blade really dates from the 11th century, but the hilt was made in the 16th century.


El Sid

Sid Campeador (real name Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar) (1048-99) was born in a suburb of Burgos and served at the Castilian court. He was one of the heroes of the Reconquista, in 1094 captured Valencia, where he later died.
Naturally, in Burgos there is also a monument to El Sid, which is somewhat reminiscent of Moscow Yuri Dolgoruky.


El Sid

During the move, Aunt Galya showed us on the bus the film "El Cid" (1961), which claimed the Oscar in 3 nominations, but failed to win. Most of the 3-hour epic movie is occupied by the love story of Sid and Jimena, played by Sophia Loren.
On the bridge of San Pablo there is a sculpture of Jimena Diaz.


Jimena Diaz

And on the opposite side of the bridge you can see the son of El Sid and Jimena - Diego.


Diego Rodriguez

Because the city stands in the way of St. Jacob, then there is no way to go anywhere without a pilgrim sculpture. The author of the work is Teodoro Antonio Ruiz.


Pilgrim (El Peregrino)

Since 1038, Burgos has been the capital of the Kingdom of Castile. In 1492, this title passed to Valladolid. And now Burgos is the second city of autonomy, with a population of about 179 thousand people.


Plaza Mayor

The main square of the city is lined with red bricks.


Plaza Mayor

Here is the city hall. On the left is the red-brown flag of Burgos.


Town Hall

King Charles III (1716-88) of the Bourbon dynasty ruled Spain for almost 30 years. In these years, the country began to recover after a strong decline. Many economic reforms were carried out, many of which the people did not like - there were even uprisings. Charles III said: "My people are like a child - they cry when they wash them."


Carl III (Carlos III)

Burgos has several beautiful palaces. One of them is the Captain's Palace. This military headquarters was built in 1903-07.


Captain's Palace (Palacio de Capitania General)

In front of the palace steps a girl with an umbrella.


Girl with an umbrella (La dama del paraguas)

The house of the rulers of Burgos (connable) is also called the House of the Rope, as the facade of the building is decorated with "rope" patterns. The palace was built by order of the Connable Pedro Fernandez de Velasco in 1476. And in 1497, Columbus met with the Catholic kings here after his second voyage to America.


Rope House (Casa del Cordon)

The current government of the province of Burgos is housed in a classic building on El Cid Square. The palace was built in 1864-69. during the reign of Isabella II.


Palace of the Province (Palacio Provincial)

The main theater of the city is the Principal Theater. Its construction began in 1843, and the grand opening took place in 1858.


Theater Principal (Teatro Principal)

Actors can be seen not only on the stage of the theater, but also on the street. For example, Johnny Depp was met by chance.


Jack Sparrow

King of Castile Enrique III Sick (1379-1406) did not differ in good health and died at the age of 27. He is buried in the Cathedral of Toledo.


Enrique III the Painful (Enrique III el Doliente)

A long park area stretches along the Arlanson River, where locals and visitors of Burgos love to walk.


Alley Marcelino Santa Maria (Paseo de Marcelino Santa Maria)

Here the police walk the dogs.


Police

By the way, such a monument was erected on the 150th anniversary of the city police in Burgos.


City Guard (Guardia Urbano)

Especially pleasant for walking is the promenade of Isla. The construction of this alley began in the middle of the 19th century, and at the beginning of the 20th century. The park was decorated with interesting monuments.


In 1905, a bust was installed on Miguel de Cervantes.


Miguel de Cervantes

Colonial style fountain was delivered from the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza.


Fountain

Perhaps the main decoration of the park is a waterfall complex created from stalactites and stalagmites of the Atapuerca Cave.


Alley of Isla (Paseo de la Isla)

As I said, the letter "R" was everywhere.


Alley of Isla (Paseo de la Isla)

The word P-evolution was chosen because the city houses the famous Museum of Human Evolution. It was opened in the summer of 2010, and has already become the most visited museum of Castile and Leon, and is one of the 10 most popular museums throughout the country.


Museum of Human Evolution (Museo de la Evolucion Humana)

In addition to this museum on the south coast of the city there are not many attractions, but something interesting can be found.


Street Aranda de Duero (Calle de Aranda de Duero)

The Valencian sculptor Andreu Alfaro (b.1929) presented the city with work in his signature aluminum style.


America (Las Americas)

There are several universities and institutes in Burgos.


Institute Lopez de Mendoza (Instituto Cardenal Lopez de Mendoza)

The Church of St. Cosmas and Damian, built in the 16th century, is interesting because it is externally made in the Renaissance style, and inside it is sustained in the late Gothic style.


Church of St. Cosmas and Damian (Iglesia de San Cosme y San Damian)

By and large, this excursion part of our tour of the north of Spain ended. Ahead - overnight in Zaragoza and 3 days of rest at sea in La Pineda ...

Those who appreciate architecture should definitely go to Burgos, located on the Ancient “Franks Road” - here is a magnificent Gothic cathedral. It stands in the center of the Old City, on the right, north bank of the Arlanson River; in the western part of the city, on a hill, is an ancient castle. On the left, south coast, in addition to the bus and railway stations and new residential areas, there are two medieval monasteries. If you want to limit yourself to just exploring the city, then come to Burgos for one day; if you want to visit the monasteries, then linger for another day. Walking around Burgos is most convenient to start from the Santa Maria Bridge (Puente de Santa Maria), thrown over Arlancon.

If you find yourself in Burgos in the warm season, you will surely see a lot of geese and ducks under the bridge, which give the city landscape a picturesque village. At the exit from the bridge there are the city gates of Santa Maria, built in the 16th century into the ancient fortress wall and decorated with statues of those who played an important role in the history of Burgos (Count Diego Porcelos, Charles V, at which these gates were built, Sid, Count of Fernandos of Burgos Gonzalez). Now, exhibition halls are arranged inside the gate towers: a carved ceiling in the Mudejar style has been preserved in the hall on the ground floor.

Burgos Attractions

Passing through the arch of the gate, you will find yourself in front of the main facade of the famous Burgos Cathedral of one of the most beautiful Gothic churches not only in Spain, but also in the whole world. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The construction of the Cathedral, dedicated to the Ascension of the Virgin, began on the site of the Romanesque church in 1221 by order of the Castilian King Ferdinand III - he himself laid the first stone on the site of the Romanesque church. The architects who built the temple were guided by French designs; First of all, the Paris Church of the Abbey of Saint-Denis, borrowing from there many constructive solutions.

Like many Gothic cathedrals, the temple in Burgos was not completed in the Middle Ages, it was subsequently rebuilt many times, the last time in the XIX century. The most ancient elements of the cathedral are the main nave and courtyard. Climbing the steps of the main, western, facade and entering through the main doors of the temple, you will find yourself in the part that is reserved for worship. Believers come here, and tourists are not very welcome here. However, it is worth looking (through glass doors) into the chapel located to the right of the entrance, where an ancient crucifix is \u200b\u200binstalled - one of the symbols of Burgos.

The main facade of the temple is oriented to the west and is dedicated to the Mother of God, most of it was built in the XIII century, although the towers appeared only in the XIV. It is most convenient to view this facade from top to bottom. In the center of the arcade between the towers there is a statue of the Virgin Mary, below - the statues of eight Castilian kings, and below them - a huge Gothic rose window, in the center of which the outlines of the hexagonal star of David, the most important biblical symbol, are clearly visible. The central doors of the temple were open only to members of the royal families; ordinary believers can now get inside only through small side doors.

Climbing the stairs from Plaza Santa Maria (Santa Maria Square), you can go around the temple and see its northern facade, dedicated to the apostles. In the center, above the entrance, the Day of Last Judgment is depicted: angels, the Mother of God and John the Baptist surrounded the God-judge; just below the archangel Michael separates the righteous from sinners. Continuing the tour of the cathedral, you will see the eastern apse, which is decorated in a completely different way - at the first glance at them it is easy to determine that the apse was built much later, not in the Gothic style. This part of the church was built during the Renaissance, in the XVI century.

Here you can consider stories from the life of John the Baptist, as well as heraldic signs of the Velasco and Mendoza families, on whose funds the eastern walls of the temple were built. The most interesting is the oldest (1230), southern, facade; his Gothic sculptures symbolically depict the "Divine Liturgy": Christ surrounded by evangelists, singing angels, apostles during holy conversations. Now the temple is divided into two zones, museum and liturgical. To explore the rest of the temple, its main treasures and museums, you should buy a ticket at the box office on the south side of the cathedral, from the side of Plaza del Rev San Fernando (Piazza San Fernando), and then go up the stairs to the south entrance.

The interior of the cathedral is grandiose, many rooms were built during the Renaissance and Baroque, in the XVIII centuries, so there are many gilding, magnificent stone carvings, altars, sculptures and other treasures. The central nave is decorated with a huge retablo of the 16th century. Biblical and gospel scenes are carved on the fence of the choir; in front of the choir, the great knight Sid Campeador and his wife Jimena are buried. Sid's chest is also kept in the temple - according to legend, a knight filled it with sand to deceive Jewish moneylenders. Near the northern doors, a gilded staircase (Escalera Dorada) has been preserved.

Above the eastern entrance of the cathedral is a clock with moving figures of the papamoscas. Take a look at the courtyard of the cathedral - in the arcades are also museum displays. Going around the cathedral and inspecting its treasures, you will again go out to its central, western facade, on Plaza Santa Maria (Santa Maria square). This square is divided at the site of an ancient church cemetery. Later, the cemetery was replaced by a grocery market; in the middle of the 15th century a fountain was placed in the center of it, from which drinking water was taken. In 1663, a statue of the Virgin was installed at the fountain.

The facade of the gothic church of San Nicolas (Iglesia de San Nicolas) is facing the square - you need to climb the stairs to it. The richly decorated temple is famous for the sculptural altar created by Ferdinand de Colonia in 1505. This altar is a huge carved stone book that tells the story of the life of St. Nicholas. Another attraction of the church is the Last Judgment painting, written by an anonymous Flemish author in the 16th century. In addition, the tomb of the noble citizens was preserved in the temple.

You can stroll along Calle Fernan Gonzales (Fernan González Street) through the narrow medieval streets to the Fernan González Gate and then to the nearby Monument to the Cid Monument and the Gates of San Martin, from which the sections of the fortress wall that have survived to our days begin. XV century. From the gates of Fernan Gonzales (Arco de Fernan Gonzales) climb paths, paths and stairs; they all lead to the mirador - an observation deck with a magnificent view of the city, and even higher, to the top of the hill, on which are the ruins of the ancient Burgos castle (Castillo)

The construction of the castle began in 884 by order of King Atfonso III. The castle was to become a reliable stronghold in the fight against the Moors. Later it was used as a royal residence - in the XI-XV centuries, Christian rulers and Leon lived here. In the 19th century, it was almost completely destroyed by Napoleonic troops. The history of the castle can be found in a small museum, which is now open on the ruins; Also, do not forget to visit the underground passages of the former castle with a guided tour and examine the many-meter well, which allowed the defenders to get water from Arlanson during the siege.

A staircase on the western side of the hill will lead you from the castle to the gothic church of San Esteban (Iglesia de San Esteban), in which the Museum of Retablo (Museo del Retablo, Calle San Esteban) is now open - there are collected altar images from various city churches. The church was built in the XIV century, and after two centuries a little expanded. From it, via Calle Alvar Fanez (Alnar Fanes Street), you can go to another city gate and to the church of San Gil (Iglesia de San Gil) with a Gothic altar.

A few blocks south is the baroque church of San Lorenzo (Iglesiade San Lorenzo, and next door to it is Plaza Mayor (Mayor Square), a typical Spanish square square that houses arcades lined up around its perimeter. A few steps from Plaza Mayor, on Plaza Libertad (Libertad Square), is the Casa del Cordon (XV) mansion, literally translated as “house of the rope,” with a Franciscan monk belt on the facade.

The inscription on the plaque says that in this palace the Catholic kings Ferdinand and Isabella solemnly met Columbus in 1497 after his return from the second expedition to the West Indies. Via Calle Puebla (Puebla street) you can go to Plaza Lesmes (Lesmes Square), which is surrounded by several old buildings: the monastery of Bernardos (Monasterio de los Bernardos), now given to the city conservatory, the monastery of San Juan (Monasteriode San Juan), the church of San Lesmes (Iglesia de San Lesmes, XVI) and the hospital for pilgrims heading to Santiago - now it houses a library.

Returning to Arlanson's promenade, inspect the Plaza del Sid (Del Snd Square) with a monument to the great knight of Burgos and the main city bridge of San Pablo (Puente de San Pablo), decorated with statues of kings. Along the coast, starting from the building of the city theater, stretches Paseo del Kspolon Boulevard (Paseo del Espolon), decorated with statues and decorative sheared thuja - in the 19th century, the place for aristocrats to walk. If you come to Burgos for a few days and have the time, then try to inspect the monuments of the left bank of Arlanson.

The first of them is the Museum of Burgos (Museo de Burgos, Calle de Miranda), which occupies two ancient noble mansions. Here you can see Roman statues, primitive tools, a rich collection of medieval paintings and more. A few blocks west of it is the renaissance church of San Cosme e Damian (Iglesia des San Cosme e San Damian, Calle San Cosme) and the adjoining hospital La Concepcion (La Concepcion, XVI-XVII). Walking along the Calle de la Concepcion (Concepcion Street) to the Arlanson Promenade, you will see La Merced Church (Iglesia de la Merced, 1519) and San Nicolas Seminary (XVI).

We advise you to continue along the coast to the west and turn onto Avenida Monasterio de las Huelgas (Monasterio de las Huelgas street): A half-hour walk (about 1 kilometer from the city center) will lead you to the monastery of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas (Monasterio Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas). He became one of the most famous in, despite the fact that Eleanor of England, daughter of the English king Henry II and wife of Alfonso VIII of Castile, founded it in 1187 on the so-called free lands not intended for agricultural work (such lands are called in Spanish "Huelgas").

While Burgos was the Spanish capital, Las Huelgas was a royal monastery. He played the most important role in the life of the royal court: from Ferdinand III (1219) to Juan I (1379) the kings of Castile and Leon were crowned here, here they were ordained knights. They were also buried here: in the main temple of the monastery are the royal tombs (including the founders of the monastery, Eleanor of England and Alfonso VIII). Most of the monastery buildings were built at the turn of the XII-XII centuries; the earliest is the courtyard of Las Claustrillas, whose Romanesque galleries were erected in the first third of the 13th century. The monastery is still operating - 35 nuns live in it.

However, most of the historic buildings are given over to the museum and are available for inspection. In addition to the Royal Pantheon and beautiful examples of Romanesque architecture and sculpture, here you can see a small Museum of fabrics (Museo de Ricas Telas). Royal robes and tapestries are exhibited here, as well as a collection of paintings, historical relics (for example, Arabic banners captured by the Spaniards in the famous battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, which put an end to Islamic rule on the Iberian Peninsula). To the west of the monastery is the Royal Hospital (Hospital del Rev, XV), where pilgrims traveling to Santiago could stay.

Now the building is given to the University of Burgos, but carved gates decorated in the Plateresque style have been preserved. In the eastern part of Burgos (4 kilometers from the city center) there is another famous monastery of Cartoule-le-Miraflorss, still owned by the Cartesians (only the church is available for inspection). In the XV century, it was one of the richest monasteries in the country - according to legend, the first gold brought by Columbus from America was used to gilt the magnificent monastery altar by Juan de Siloe. In the temple, under magnificent tombstones, the parents of Isabella of Castile - King Juan II and his wife Isabella of Portugal are buried.

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