Editing Burgos (section)

==Sights==
Burgos is rich in ancient churches and convents. The three most notable are the cathedral, with its chapel of the Condestables de Castilla (Lords Constable of Castile), the monastery of Las Huelgas and the [[Carthusian]] monastery of Miraflores. Minor notable churches are San Esteban, San Gil (Sancti Aegidii), San Pedro, San Cosme y San Damián, 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 of historic and architectural interest.<ref name=Catholic/>

Among the other interesting architectural structures, in the walls of the city are the [[Arco de Santa María|gateway of Santa María]], erected for the first entrance of the [[Emperor Charles V]], and the arch of Fernán González.<ref name=Catholic/>

===Gothic Cathedral===
{{Main|Burgos Cathedral}}
Construction on Burgos' [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] Cathedral began in 1221 and spanned mainly from the 13th to 15th centuries. It has been declared a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]]. The Cathedral is the resting place for [[El Cid]] (the famous knight from Medieval Spain's history) and his wife Dona Jimena. The west front is flanked by towers terminating in octagonal spires covered with open stonework traceries. The middle section, which serves as an entrance, has three alabaster pilasters, the intercolumnar spaces bearing panel-pictures representing the martyrdom of saints. The façade possesses ornate and fantastic surface decoration.<ref name=Catholic/>

The octagonal chapel of the Condestable, in florid, thus highly sculpted, [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] design, has a roof finished with balustraded turrets, needle-pointed pinnacles and statues. 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 elaborate [[tabernacle]] is composed of two octagonal sections in [[Corinthian style]].<ref name=Catholic/>

===Monasterio de las Huelgas===
{{Main|Las Huelgas}}
The ''Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales'' (Monastery of the Royal Retreats) on the outskirts of the city, was founded in 1180 by king [[Alfonso VIII]], and was begun in a pre-Gothic style, although almost every style has been introduced over many additions. The remarkable cloisters have been described as "unrivalled for beauty both of detail and design, and perhaps unsurpassed by anything in its age and style in any part of Europe" (1911 ''Encyclopædia Britannica''). One cloister has semicircular arches with delicate and varied columns; the other has an ogival style of early Gothic. The interior of the church has enormous columns supporting its magnificent vault; the entrance is modern. This convent historically benefited from extraordinary privileges granted to its abbess by kings and popes.<ref name=Catholic/>

===Miraflores Charterhouse===
{{Main|Miraflores Charterhouse}}
The [[Carthusian]] monastery, Miraflores Charterhouse (''Cartuja de Miraflores'') is situated about four kilometres from the historic city center. Among the treasures of the Charterhouse are the wooden statue of [[Bruno of Cologne|St. Bruno]], the wooden choir stalls in the church and the tombs of King [[John II of Castile|Juan II]] and of his spouse, Queen [[Isabella of Portugal, Queen of Castile|Isabella of Portugal]], constructed of marble and with their [[Tomb effigy|recumbent effigies]] sculpted in [[alabaster]]. Around the top frieze are statues of angels in miniature. The French soldiers in the [[Spanish War of Independence]] (1814) mutilated this work, cutting off some of the heads and carrying them away to France.<ref name=Catholic>{{Catholic|wstitle=Burgos|inline=1}}</ref> King Juan II's daughters by his first wife, heiresses Princesses [[Catherine, Princess of Asturias|Catherine]] and [[Eleanor, Princess of Asturias|Eleanor]] of [[Principality of Asturias|Asturias]], are also buried in the monastery.

=== Castle ===
Located on a hill 75 meters above the city, it is a medieval defensive fortress built during the time of the reconquest. Used by Castilian kings as accommodation and a place for celebrations, it later became an artillery fort and then a weapons factory. After its destruction by the French during the War of Independence in 1813, there are hardly any buildings left standing. From the Castle it is possible to see fantastic views of the city.