Most of the tourists that come to visit Burgos, think of the Cathedral in the first place, but we are going to suggest you to start the route visiting other remarkable site: The Royal Monastery of Las Huelgas or the Abbey of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas.

 

This monument was founded by Alfonso VIII of Castile and his wife Leonor Plantagenet in 1187 as a residential complex which has hosted many royal weddings. Then it was given to the Cisterian nuns and used as a Royal Panthenon of the royal family.

 

Currently, the monastery is considered World Heritage Site and therefore open to the public.

“Cartuja de Miraflores” or Miraflores Charterhouse is a monastery for the 15th century built on a hill by Isabel TheCatholic. It is about three kilometersaway fromthe city center and it was erected,as a sepulchre,by Juan de Colonia and his son Simon de Colonia, who ended the constructionin 1484.

 

It is considered as a late gothic monument with a noticeable church and remarkable chapels and alterpiece. One of its highlights is the painting“Anunciacion” by Pedro Berruguete.

The Cathedral is the main and he most representative monument of Burgos. It is the first gothic cathedral in the peninsula and one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

 

It is an harmonious monument that was built in 1221, inspired in the French gothic patterns. The spires of the cathedral make it an outstandingly building with a unic elevation that makes it different from other temples and cathedrals in the world. Inside the building, there is a Latin cross layout with three naves, some funerary chapels and a bronze plaque where El Cid Campeador, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, and his wife lie.

 

Some of the most outstanding chapels to visit are: the chapel of “los Condestables”, the Golde Staircase, the Chapel of Santa Ana and the tomb of El Cid, which is already mentioned. 

 

Moreover, one of the most popular attractions inside this monument is “El Papamoscas” or flycatcher which is a clock that chimes and opens its mouth every hour. A curious fact to consider is that in 2021 we will celebrate the 800th birthday of the Cathedral.

This legendary monastery is located 10 km away from Burgos city centre. It is considered an Asset of Cultural Interest and the oldest Benedictine monastery in Spain. Its origins probably date back to the 8th century, but it was re-founded by the king Alfonso III at the end of the 9th century becoming a prominent centre of power and cultural influence.

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Its history is linked to Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid, a famous knight of the XI century. According to the legend, his family stayed at the monastery after his exile. This knight and his wife were buried there until 1808, when their remains were desecrated. It is thought that his stallion “Babieca” was buried here too.

It is a monument built in the 14thcenturythat was used as a gate to the city. During the 16 th century it was rebuilt by Juan de Vallejo and Francisco de Colonia as a triumphal arch. In its façadewe could see some remarkable people in the historyof Burgos, such as Diego RodríguezPorcelos, who is thefounder of Burgos; Lain Calvo and Nuño Rasura who were “Jueces de Castilla”; El Cid; Fernán González, etc.

 

It is importantto know that the building is open to the public andit usually contains many arts expositions for the pubic to visit. In the main room of the building there is a large painting of thefamous artistJosé Vela Zanettiand upstairs tthere is an old pharmacy of the old hospital of San Juan with some antique pharmaceutical equipment.

The paleontological site of Atapuerca is one of the most important sites in Europe, as it gathers evidence of the presence of the Homo antecessor, the Homo heidelbergensis and the Homo neanderthalensis and their way of life.

 

There is evidence of cannibalism, of funeral rituals and other discoveries which suggest the existence of a symbolic way of thinking. All these make Atapuerca special.