Burgos
I first took a trip to Burgos several years ago. My immediate impression was that I wanted to visit again.
It is one of the many cities in Europe with an important history, one that once played a larger role in the world. These places aren´t necessarily mentioned in guidebooks or they aren’t on a direct route between famous cities or tourist destinations. These cities are sleeping giants and if you’re lucky enough to stumble on one of them you’ll know what I mean. Burgos is a beautiful place that is full of culture.
Burgos has been inhabited since the Neolithic times. A good deal of the medieval city is persevered. It was the capital of the kingdom of Castile, a very important city in medieval times, for a long time a trading hub, and the scene of one of the many battles in the Napoleonic wars. Today 175,000 people live there. It is also one of the main stops on the Camino de Santiago.
I have a special fascination with Burgos. Places where we have good memories tend to drawn us back. I had taken a few trips there with friends. Often when I took the bus to Northern Spain, it would stop briefly in Burgos, and I would have a chance to reconnect with the city even if just for a short time.
What was strange is that now, more recently, many years later, I was telling someone about these trips and I realized that I might never see the city again. It was painful. To know that you may never see certain friends again or even step foot in a place that you love is hard. This is what the Portuguese mean with their difficult word Saudade. At that moment it seemed very unlikely that I would ever be in Burgos or even Spain again.
I was extremely happy to have been able to return a few weeks ago. I remember arriving and thinking how incredible it was to be back having thought I would never likely return. I also realized that a repeat trip may not be easy or likely. That is alright. I was happy to have been back even one time. It was a gift.
These are some places to visit in Burgos:
The Burgos Cathedral is one of the most beautiful in Spain. Cathedrals can’t really be quantified or compared because they represent great architectural and artistic achievements over the centuries. However, if you could only see a few cathedrals in Spain, I would recommend going to Burgos. It is unique.
During my visit the Cathedral had a “Forgotten Music” exhibition. While going through the old books in the cathedral they realized that there was quite a collection of original works by the composers in residence over a few centuries. This is fascinating and is probably the case in many cathedrals throughout Europe. They are recording some of the works now with period instruments and investigating further what is in the collection.
The remains of the castle sit atop a hill above the Cathedral. It is a steep climb but when you reach the top you have a good view of the surrounding area. Only the foundation of the castle remains as it had been destroyed with gunpowder during the Napoleonic Wars.
The Cartuja de Miraflores is worth visiting. It is a 2.6 mile (4.2 km) walk from the Cathedral square to the Cartuja (Carthusian Monastery). The route takes you along the Arlanzón River and it is a relaxing walk. The Cartuja itself isn´t as grand or majestic as the Cathedral but there are many beautiful pieces and the building itself is beautiful.
There are several other museums, churches, and buildings worth visiting but the above would make an excellent day trip.
Photo Credits:
Burgos Castle - Exterior, Castillo, Burgos, España
Jesús Serna
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castillo_de_burgos_exterior_2.jpg
Cartuja de MIraflores - Vista exterior de la Cartuja de Miraflores, en Burgos.
Eltitomac
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cartuja_de_Miraflores.JPG
All other photos are my own.