Burgos Cathedral — Attraction in Burgos

BURGOS CATHEDRAL

The superlatives to describe Burgos Cathedral are not enough - breathtaking, awesome, inspiring, uplifting. All in one place: architecture, art, history through the ages.

Highly recommended for a visit but do take your time, get there early there is so much to see. Please look up! Accessibility for all but younger children may get tired and bored. Every corner is definitely a WOW!

Located in a beautiful square surrounded by restaurants and other notable historic buildings with associations to Christopher Columbus.

The Cathedral of Burgos is more than a relic of history—it is still alive with prayer, art, and the echo of pilgrimage. It reflects a time when faith shaped cities, art was theology in stone, and devotion reached toward heaven in soaring arches and spires.

Pilgrimage Landmark: It is a major stop along the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), linking it to centuries of European Christian pilgrimage.

Brief History of Burgos Cathedral

Founded: Construction began in 1221 under King Ferdinand III of Castile and Bishop Mauricio, during a time of intense religious and political consolidation in Christian Spain.

Consecration: Though construction lasted over 300 years, the core structure was consecrated in 1260.

Completion: The final major Gothic embellishments, including the iconic spires, were added in the 15th and 16th centuries. Baroque and Renaissance touches followed in later centuries.

Architectural Significance

Gothic Masterpiece: The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1984) and one of the finest examples of French-inspired Gothic architecture in Spain.

Flemish, German, and Italian Influences: Its chapels, facades, and decorative elements display a stunning blend of artistic styles over centuries, including flamboyant Gothic, Plateresque, and Renaissance.

Notable Features:

The Papamoscas automaton: a mechanical figure in the nave that opens its mouth on the hour.

The Golden Staircase by Diego de Siloé.

The Chapel of the Constable, richly adorned with sculpture and decoration.

Historical & Cultural Importance

Resting Place of El Cid: Perhaps its most famous tie is to Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid Campeador), the legendary Castilian knight. Both he and his wife Doña Jimena are buried within the cathedral beneath a simple stone slab.

Symbol of Castilian Power: The cathedral symbolised the rise of Burgos as a political, religious, and economic hub during the Reconquista and into the height of...

The Burgos Cathedral is located in the historical centre of the Spanish city of the same name, in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León, in the northern Iberian Peninsula. The inscribed property encompasses 1.03 ha.

Construction on the Cathedral began in 1221 and was completed in 1567. It is a comprehensive example of the evolution of Gothic style, with the entire history of Gothic art exhibited in its superb architecture and unique collection of art, including paintings, choir stalls, reredos, tombs, and stained-glass windows.

The plan of the Cathedral is based on a Latin Cross of harmonious proportions of 84 by 59 metres. The three-story elevation, the vaulting, and the tracery of the windows are closely related to contemporary models of the north of France. The portals of the transept (the Puerta del Sarmental to the south and the Puerta de la Coronería to the north) may also be compared to the great sculpted ensembles of the French royal domain, while the enamelled, brass tomb of Bishop Mauricio resembles the so-called Limoges goldsmith work. Undertaken after the Cathedral, the two-storied cloister, which was completed towards 1280, still fits within the framework of the French high Gothic.

After a hiatus of nearly 200 years, work resumed on the Burgos Cathedral towards the middle of the 15th century and continued for more than 100 years. The work done during this time consisted of embellishments of great splendour, assuring the Cathedral’s continued...

I echo everyone else 's comments - this is simply a beautiful cathedral that you must visit! Download the audio BEFORE you arrive at the Cathedral! We were able to have Mass in a side chapel. In addition, there are 21 side chapels, each more beautiful than the other. The architecture and the stonework and the various carvings are simply exquisite. It is hard to believe what stonemasons and woodcarvers built hundreds of years ago with simple tools. We did not take the tour- due to time constraints- enjoy the grandeur of this magnificent cathedral. Construction on the Cathedral began in 1221 and was completed in 1567. It is a comprehensive example. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos is a Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary located in the historical center of the Spanish city of Burgos. Its official name is the Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica Church of St Mary of Burgos. It all began in the year 1080, when Alfonso VI, who was king of the ancient kingdom of Castile, ordered the construction of a Romanesque cathedral in the city of Burgos: the Church of Santa María de Burgos. In 1219, this church hosted a ceremony of great importance for the kingdom of Castile, the wedding of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile and the Germanic princess Beatrice of Swabia (daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II of Swabia...