Hotel reservations in other destinations:
Sights
Sights
Burgos still possesses more ecclesiastical monuments than any other Spanish city, even Toledo.
The three most outstanding are the cathedral, with its chapel of the Condestables de Castilla, the monastery of Las Huelgas and the Carthusian monastery of Miraflores.
In addition to the collegiate churches of Lerma, Villadiego, Pampliega, Palenzuela, Covarrubias and others, there are in Burgos alone many magnificent buildings.
The cathedral treasury, the monastery of Las Huelgas and the Carthusian monastery of Miraflores, are museums of permanent value.
Minor notable churches are: San Esteban, San Gil (Sancti Aegidii), San Pedro, San Cosme y San Damian, Santiago (Sancti Jacobi), San Lorenzo and San Lesmes (Adelelmi).
The Convento de la Merced, occupied by the Jesuits, and the Hospital del Rey are also worthy of mention.
In the walls of the city are the famous gateway of Santa María, erected for the first entrance of the Emperor Charles V, and the arch of Fernán González.
The diocese has two fine ecclesiastical seminaries.
There are also many institutions for secular education.
Schools are maintained in every diocese, the Instituto Provincial, and many colleges are conducted by private individuals, religious orders and nuns both cloistered and uncloistered.
Gothic Cathedral
The Gothic Cathedral at Burgos, begun in 1221, displays features of the 13th to 15th centuries.
The west front is flanked by towers terminating in octagonal spires covered with open stonework traceries.
The The middle section, which serves for an entrance, has three alabaster pilasters, the intercolumnar spaces bearing panel-pictures representing the martyrdom of saints.
The façade as a whole gives the impression of a gorgeous picture, and the ornate and fantastic devices sculptured all over its magnificent surface are simply innumerable.
The octagonal chapel of the Condestable, of florid Gothic and very pure in design, is the best of the many chapels of the cathedral.
Its roof is finished with balustraded turrets, needle-pointed pinnacles, statues, and countless other sculptural devices.
In the lower portion coats of arms, shields, and crouching lions have been worked into the ensemble.
The exterior of the sacristy is decorated with carved traceries, figures of angels and armoured knights.
The tabernacle is of extraordinary magnificence and is composed of two octagonal sections in Corinthian style.
Monasterio de las Huelgas
Next to the cathedral in magnificence is the famous Monasterio de las Huelgas on the outskirts of the city.
This royal monastery was founded in 1180 by Alfonso VIII, and architecturally belongs to the transition period from Byzantine to Gothic, although in the course of time almost every style has been introduced into it.
This convent has two remarkable cloisters, described by 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica 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 a very fine example of the earlier period and of the use of semi-circular arches and delicate and varied columns; the other of the ogival style of the transition period.
The interior of the church is in the style of the latter, enormous columns supporting its magnificent vault; the entrance is modern.
This convent is celebrated for the extraordinary privileges granted to its abbess by kings and popes.
Cartuja de Miraflores
A very beautiful and life-like statue of St.
Bruno carved in wood is one of the treasures of the monastery; the stalls in the church also display exquisite workmanship.
The mausoleum of King John II and of his wife Isabel, in this monastery, is constructed of the finest marble and so delicately carved that portions seem to be sculptured in wax rather than stone.
Around the top are beautiful statues of angels in miniature, which might be the work of Phidias.
The French soldiers in the War of Independence (1814) mutilated this beautiful work, cutting off some of the heads and carrying them away to France.
The Carthusian monastery of Miraflores, noted for its strict observance, is situated about four kilometres from the historic city center.
The mausoleum of King John II and of his wife Isabel, in this monastery, is carved of alabaster.
.
Source: CIA Factbook, Wikipedia
Did you find it useful?
Book now, pay in the hotel!
|
|
★ The 10 best hotels in Burgos
Hotels by type
Burgos map
About Burgos
History
Sights
Climate
Sister city
Sources and external links
User reviews about Burgos
|
Member of the 4K.com™ network. Authoritative sites about hotels around the world.
