Burgos Cathedral

Burgos Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María) is the principal Gothic cathedral of the city of Burgos in Castile and León, Spain. Construction of the present Gothic building began in 1221, and it is celebrated for its high Gothic architecture and ornamental spires.

Architectural highlights include a richly articulated Gothic nave and transepts and later additions with ornate sculptural programme on the façades and chapels. The building houses important funerary monuments, including the tomb traditionally associated with El Cid and his wife.

Over the medieval and early modern centuries the cathedral was expanded and modified, with chapels and decorative elements added by successive patrons; it remains an active cathedral and a focal point of the historic city centre. Burgos’s historic core, including the cathedral, is recognised for its architectural and cultural significance.

The cathedral sits in the centre of Burgos in northern central Spain and is a dominant landmark in the city’s skyline, within walking distance of the Castilian plain and the medieval urban core.

• Construction date: Construction of the current Gothic cathedral began in 1221, and it is considered one of Spain's leading Gothic monuments.
• Notable tombs: The cathedral contains notable funerary monuments, including the tomb traditionally associated with the medieval knight El Cid and his wife.