11 essentials: what to see and do in Burgos capital and surroundings

Burgos It is one of the cities with the most history in Spain.

For many centuries it has played a very important role from a political, economic and social point of view, and all of this is reflected in the monumental heritage it holds.

Only for visit the cathedraldeclared World Heritage awarded by the Unesco, it would be worth visiting Burgos, but there is obviously much more to see, know and enjoy in this city.

For example, other great monuments from the medieval period, where the Strikes Monastery and Miraflores Charterhouse.

Why visit the city of Burgos

But Burgos also offers a unique counterpoint in the Museum of Human Evolution, where some of the extraordinary fossils found in Atapuerca.

The Atapuerca deposits They are located about 15 kilometers away, and are very interesting due to the exceptional nature of the treasures discovered there.

Due to its proximity it is possible to perfectly consider Atapuerca as another place to visit on a city tour.

Additionally the historical Center, around the cathedral and on the banks of the Arlanzón River. It is very pleasant to walk and has many secrets to discover.

On the other hand, Burgos is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for the protection of gastronomic cultural heritage.

We can remember that both blood sausage , the the lamb They are products with Protected Geographical Identification, and tasting both products is another stage in the discovery of this city.

Curiosities of the history of Burgos, ancient capital of Castile

Burgos It was one of the most important cities of the Iberian Peninsula for a good part of the Middle Ages.

In fact, it was the capital of County of Castile, from the Kingdom of Castile and, on certain occasions, Castilla's crown until the reign of the Catholic kings.

In 1512 the Laws of Burgos, signed by Ferdinand the Catholic, the first ordinances that would govern the conquest of the The new World and which are considered precursors of the Declaration of Human Rights and International Law.

This is due to the protection that it legally granted to the natives of the conquered lands, which, although very limited from the current point of view, was actually very advanced for its time.

Burgos and the nearby Atapuerca deposits is a good destination for a weekend or even a bridge, since it offers enough attractions to spend several days.

All that is the historic center can and should be explored on foot.

Where to sleep in Burgos

In fact, it is impossible to access a good part of it by private vehicle. You can only enter if you have a space in a parking lot.

If we stay in this area, it is necessary to take this into account and that the hotel inform us of the point through which we access the restricted area.

However, there are secluded places like the Miraflores Charterhouse to which it is necessary to go by car or taxi.

In turn, the Las Huelgas Monastery It is two kilometers from the cathedral, and, as has already been said, the Atapuerca deposit It is about 15 kilometers away.

The best things to see and visit in Burgos on a weekend

Below we highlight the best places you should visit on your getaway to Burgos during a weekend, or within the framework of some vacation in the province.

Gothic Cathedral of Burgos, World Heritage Site

Is great monument of the city of Burgos and one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Europe.

In fact, it was one of the first Spanish monuments to be inscribed on the list of the World Heritage.

In 2021, the 800th anniversary of the beginning of its construction, which lasted several centuries, was celebrated. That is why it has Gothic elements from different periods and also many Renaissance works of art.

During its construction, Burgos attracted the most important artists of its time, and their works decisively influenced various generations of sculptors, architects and painters.

La Burgos cathedral It is an endless complex, and among the essential corners to visit during the visit are the Chapel of the Constables, The Golden Staircase, the Dome and Chapel of Santa Ana.

Regardless of its artistic value, everyone wants to observe the flycatcher, an automaton that rings a bell every hour.

Camino de Santiago in Burgos

In addition to the cathedral, the the Camino de Santiago is also declared World Heritage awarded by the Unesco, so in the center of Burgos we find two of these recognitions, which happens in very few places in the world.

It is possible to do the urban section of the Camino following the original itinerary, the one that has been traveled by pilgrims for centuries.

To a large extent it follows the Avellanos and Fernán González streets, and when walking through the latter you pass by the side of the cathedral.

Arch of Santa María, gate of the wall of Burgos

El St. Mary's Arch It is one of the doors that opened in the city ​​wall and connected the cathedral with the Arlanzón River by the most direct path.

Its image is one of the most characteristic of the city and one that endures in memory, with an exterior appearance that is a mixture of a defensive tower and an altarpiece.

In this one, instead of saints or biblical scenes appearing, we see illustrious figures from the history of the city represented.

Inside you can visit the Pority Room, with a Mudejar coffered ceiling.

El Espolón, a green area on the banks of the Arlanzón

Although much of the banks of the Arlanzón As they pass through the city they are a long green area, the section known as the Spur It is the favorite of the people of Burgos for walking and socializing.

It extends from the Arco de Santa María to the Principal Theater, and in it we find several statues of kings and saints, a bandstand and an avenue of plane trees that form a splendid shade in summer.

Plaza Mayor of Burgos

La Plaza Mayor It is another of the centers of the social life of Burgos, a place where the market stood for centuries.

It is an irregular space, made up of buildings from different periods and styles. Here is the building Town Hall, neoclassical style and a statue of Carlos III.

Many of the houses have arcades, which gives an air of typical Castilian square.

Here we also find some traditional businesses that are part of the soul of the city, whether it is a candy store or a toy store.

Plaza with the Statue of El Cid

This square, at one end of the San Pablo Bridge, is one of the current centers of economic life, due to the commercial activity that bustles in the surrounding streets.

Here we find the Home Theater and the Palace of the Provincial Council. Very close is the Casa del Cordón.

And, of course, it highlights the Statue of the Cid, the most famous in Burgos and, for many, in all of Spain.

This monument in the square is a reminder of the relationship of this character with the city and the province.

Church of Santa Águeda on the Camino del Cid

We can remember that Burgos is usually the first stop on the Camino del Cid, the great route that begins a few kilometers away, in Vivar del Cid, and travels through eight provinces in their footsteps.

In the city we can see different places related to Rodrigo Diaz, and whose tomb is in the cathedral, under the dome.

A short distance from the cathedral we find the church of Santa Agatha, place of the mythical scene of the Jura of Santa Gadea, in which the Cid forces him to take an oath Alfonso VI stating that he has not participated in the murder of his brother.

You have to remember that El Cid He is one of the characters represented in the Arch of Santa María and that in the Bridge of San Pablo there is eight statues of characters related to the Song and its legend.

Museum of Human Evolution with fossils from Atapuerca

El Museum of Human Evolution, which is located next to Arlanzón and the San Pablo Bridge, is both a reference for scientists and a first-rate tourist attraction.

In an immense open space, so many original fossils from the Atapuerc sitesas plausible reproductions of the hominids to which they belonged.

It also highlights a Beagle replica, the ship in which Darwin He went around the world.

It is exciting to see the fossils found in these sites and which have revolutionized many theories about the presence of hominids in Europe.

Here there is remains of homo predecessor and even a new species, still to be determined, from 1.3000.000 years ago.

And there we see the Miguelon skull, the most complete ever found of A man from Heidelberg.

Las Huelgas Monastery, jewel of Cistercian art

It is likely that the cathedral is so dazzling that it prevents us from seeing other fabulous monuments that would be the most important in many other cities.

For example, the Monastery of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas, one of the triumphs of the cistercian architecture Full of art and history.

It was ordered to be built in the 12th century by Alfonso VIII , the royal pantheon.

It has some strength on the outside, and its interior is a lesson in history and art. His chapter house is considered the jewel of Spanish Cistercian art.

Also noteworthy is the Museum of Medieval Fabrics, practically unique in the world, where we see clothing from the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries.

Miraflores Charterhouse, Royal Pantheon in Burgos

For many it is one of the most interesting monuments in the world. gothic end europeor, and the church was built as Pantheon of King John II of Castile.

Isabel the Catholic He financed this work in which the best artists of his time participated.

The charterhouse has only one nave but is exceptional in every way.

The altarpiece is decorated with gold brought by Christopher Columbus after his second trip to America.

Atapuerca deposits

As has already been said, we should not miss the opportunity to get closer to the Atapuerca deposits, which are about 15 kilometers from Burgos.

This exceptional place has provided the fossil remains of the oldest hominids in Europe.

Some of them are so old that they belong to a still undetermined human species.

The visit is always done in a group guided by an expert archaeologist and you must reserve a place in advance.

Map: how to get to Burgos

Here you have a Burgos map, city of Castilla y León where you can get from Madrid by car in just over two and a half hours y from Burgos in two hours.