This is the visit to the Cathedral of Burgos, a Gothic jewel: schedules

La Burgos cathedral is undoubtedly one of the most important monuments in all of Spain.

Just to visit it, it is worth traveling to this Castilian-Leonese city that also has many other attractions.

La Burgos cathedral was, with the Alhambra of Granada, The Mosque of Cordoba and the El Escorial Monastery, the first Spanish monuments that were inscribed by the Unesco on the list of World Heritage.

Its large dimensions and high towers make it dominate over the entire city. Burgos historic center.

Burgos Cathedral, World Heritage monument

With the experience of our visit I can tell you that, depending on the road you take, its towers can be visible from several kilometers away.

Being located in the center, we will find it on any walk we take through the city. city ​​of Burgos.

It will be the opportunity to enjoy its exterior and appreciate the numerous important details that appear on its facades, towers and dome.

Inside, apart from the splendid building that it is, the cathedral is a true museum of paintings, sculptures, stained glass, stalls, altarpieces, tombs, etc.

Curiosities about the history of the Burgos Cathedral

Construction work on the cathedral began in 1221 and was completed in 1567.

In reality there was an interruption of almost 200 years, which makes different parts of the building show the evolution of the gothic style over time.

An international team participated in the works, which also implies influences from different origins.

Burgos Cathedral, masterpiece of Gothic art

When it was finished, it was already recognized that the altarpieces, the bars, the choir stalls, the doors, the staircase and so many other elements that it housed made up an immense amount of true masterpieces of gothic art.

Later many more were added, which can be considered Renaissance style.

All studies emphasize the idea that the history of Spanish Gothic and Renaissance art cannot be understood without the contributions of the artists who worked on the cathedral.

What are the dimensions of the Burgos Cathedral

Its dimensions are impressive, with a Latin cross plan that measures 84 by 59 meters.

The builders were greatly influenced by the architecture that was being done at that time in northern France, and that is why scholars point out its similarity to other contemporary cathedrals in that area.

Construction began in 1221 by order of Ferdinand III the Saint, who was obsessed with the construction of great cathedrals.

Two years earlier he had married Beatrice of Swabia in the old Romanesque cathedral of Burgos, which was considered not to be up to the power of the kings of Castile and León.

By then the Bishop Mauritius He had already returned from a trip to France where he had visited several cathedrals to look for models and ideas that he could copy.

In just 40 years the cathedral was consecrated, although what we see now is an evolution completed between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.

This is the experience of visiting Burgos Cathedral, the best thing to see

One of the characteristics of this cathedral that attracts attention is that it is built on a very sloping terrain, on the slope that descends from the castle to the Arlanzón River.

That is why the doors are not at the same level, and so the Crown It is much higher than that of the Sarmental.

The slender towers, the dome and Chapel of the Constables are the other aspects that define the exterior of this great building.

It is impossible to describe here everything we will find when visiting the cathedral; However, there are some masterpieces that we should not miss.

The number of beautiful spaces and corners that the Cathedral houses is such that you have to dedicate a little time to make the visit a calm and satisfactory experience.

Throughout the entire route we will see the QR codes that will allow us to listen to the audios that will serve as a guide and allow us to discover a thousand details that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Below we highlight the corners that most impressed us on our last visit to the city. Burgos cathedral.

Cover of Sarmental

The entrance to the cathedral is done by Sarmental cover, from the 13th century, the oldest of the four that the cathedral has.

Everything in it revolves around Christ as great teacher of humanity and its messengers, the apostles and the bishop.

There appear the evangelists, writing the message Christ. There are figures of angels, musicians and the choir of elders celebrating the wisdom of the Teacher.

Chapel of the Constables, the most amazing corner of the cathedral

For many, the Chapel of the Constables It is the most amazing place in the whole.

Some have described it as a cathedral within a cathedral and, without a doubt, it is one of the most beautiful in the world.

It was commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by Pedro Fernandez de Velasco y Mencia de Mendoza, constables of Castile, whose recumbent statues stand out inside and show their greatness.

Looking up you discover your star-shaped openwork vault, even more refined than the one that stands out on the dome.

The three altarpieces, the paintings and triptychs in the chapel are also extraordinary.

And above all, the effect caused by the light in this room is impressive, which changes depending on the time of day.

Dome of the Burgos Cathedral, the most beautiful dome

One of the most amazing moments of the visit to the cathedral of Burgos is when you look up from the Tomb of the Cid and his wife Doña Jimena and the discovery is made dome lantern, probably the most beautiful dome of the Spanish Renaissance.

The phrase he said is famous Felipe II when contemplating it, that “It seemed more like the work of angels than men.".

It is a perfect example of technical mastery to represent that the cathedral is an earthly and celestial temple at the same time.

The Golden Staircase, model for the Paris Opera staircase

One of the most beautiful but also surprising elements of the cathedral is the Golden Staircase.

Allows access to the temple from the Coronery Gate, what is on the Fernán González street, where the the Camino de Santiago, but which is much higher than the level of the cathedral.

It is the work of Diego of Siloam and is inspired by models from the Italian Renaissance of Twine and Miguel Angel.

She was so admired that she served as a model for the Paris Opera staircase.

Lower Cloister, stages of the construction of the cathedral

The visit ends at lower cloister, where the different stages of construction of the cathedral.

Different pieces from various parts of the temple; A collection of models helps a lot to understand how it was built.

High Cloister with polychrome doorways

The construction of the cloister was the first and most important of the extensions after the consecration of the cathedral.

It has two heights to overcome the unevenness of the hill next to which the cathedral stands.

At the upper cloister highlights the polychrome covers that give access to the chapels, the sculptures that represent the kings and bishops who built the temple and a series of tombs.

You have to look at the sculptural groups of the four angles and the tympanum of Deesis.

El upper cloister It is one of the most beautiful sets in the 13th century Spanish Gothic.

Chapel of the Conception, jewel of flowery Gothic

The chapel of the Conception is a flowery gothic jewel Built in the last third of the 16th century, in which the vaults, the entrance arches, the capitals and the cornices stand out.

There are also several magnificent tombs and altarpieces.

El Main altarpiece is a masterpiece of European Gothic sculpture, work of Gil of Siloam.

The Flycatcher, curious character of the Burgos Cathedral

One of the unusual details of the Burgos cathedral is the flycatcher, an automaton that is located at the top of the central nave, about 15 meters from the ground.

It is located next to the clock and at the hour it moves its hand to activate the clapper of the bell that is next to it.

To its left is another, smaller automaton, called the Martinillo, which rings two bells every quarter of an hour.

Visiting hours of Burgos Cathedral

The Burgos Cathedral visiting hours They are, from mid-March to October, from 9,30:19,30 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m., with last access one hour before closing.

Hours from November to mid-March, from 10 a.m. to 19 p.m., with last access at 18 p.m.

Entrance fees to Burgos Cathedral

El price of admission general is 10 euros; here you can consult the full ticket prices.

How to visit Burgos Cathedral for free

Keep in mind that On Tuesday afternoons, visiting Burgos Cathedral is free..