The three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Burgos.
The Cathedral was the first to be recognized by Unesco.
Did you know that Burgos has 3 sites named World Heritage by Unesco?. Few provinces can boast such distinction. And it is not only about artistic and cultural heritage, but also about one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world. Birthplace of mankind, pilgrimage site, and witness of an architectural wonder that could well be one of the future 7 wonders of the world. Today we’ll review the 3 World Heritage sites in Burgos.
It is one of the most important distinctions in the world that protects artistic, cultural, and natural properties for the common heritage of humanity. Currently, the World Heritage list includes a total of 1,121 sites (869 cultural, 213 natural, and 39 mixed). The people of Burgos can feel more than proud to host 3 of them, and in the case of the Cathedral of Burgos, even more so because it was named in the first revision that was done in 1984, during the eighth session of this committee.
World Heritage in Burgos: Do you know them all?
Cathedral of Burgos and historical center
Let’s start with the highlight. It’s no surprise that the Cathedral of Burgos is included in this exclusive Unesco list. We have already mentioned that the distinction was granted almost at the very beginning, in the 1980s. But did you know that a protection extension to the entire historic center of Burgos was made in 2014? It’s something that has gone quite unnoticed even for the Burgos locals.
Photo: Jim Anzalone
A protection area of 78 hectares has been defined which includes, not only the walled enclosure and all the historical buildings of interest within it, but also the Castle hill and the bank of the Arlanzón river. Heritage and natural elements that have shaped the old city’s appearance for centuries.
And about the cathedral… what can we say that hasn’t been said already?. It is one of the essential monuments to see in Burgos and one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. A temple that is currently on everyone’s lips because it is about to celebrate a milestone. On July 20, 2021, the city of Burgos will take to the streets to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the laying of the first stone of the temple. For the occasion, the VIII Centenary of the Cathedral Foundation has been created. We recommend checking the website because the activities to commemorate the anniversary have already begun.
Way of Saint James
It was the second to enter the list of World Heritage sites in Burgos. The recognition took place in 1993. The distinction given to the French Way of Saint James was more than deserved and the first time Unesco bypassed its own rules. Until that year, only individual monument candidacies, historic ensembles, and cities of the world passed the filter. In the following years, expansions were included to the Camino de Santiago in France and to the various Caminos de Santiago in the northern Iberian Peninsula.
The Way of Saint James in Castilian lands.
The route of the Spanish Way of Saint James has 112 kilometers within the province of Burgos. A historic journey full of interesting stops such as San Juan de Ortega, Belorado, Villafranca Montes de Oca, the Convent of San Antón and, of course, Castrojeriz and the city of Burgos itself. And this is just a brief summary.
As it passes through the provincial capital, we find a route that crosses the entire city from east to west. There is no better way to get to know it. From less to more. A historic center that is thus doubly protected by this very important global organization.
Atapuerca Archaeological Site
The last to receive recognition but by no means the least important. Quite the opposite. The Atapuerca Archaeological Site continues to reveal amazing discoveries that complement our knowledge of human evolution. And there’s more to come… An endless pit of knowledge and archaeological remains unique in Europe. They entered the list in 2000 but could have done so much earlier.
Museum of Human Evolution. Photo: Viajeros 3.0
The guided tour that visitors take delves into the Railway Cut. A cut of limestone rock opened in the early 20th century. From there, a network of chasms and galleries was found. Together, they currently make up the Atapuerca excavations. But among all of them, three stand out: the Elephant Pit, the Big Dolina, and the Gallery
The tourist visit to the sites is completed with the Experimental Archaeology Center (CAREX) and the Museum of Human Evolution (MEH) in the heart of Burgos. If you want to know more details, we recommend reading the article ‘How to visit Atapuerca’ where we detail what you will find, schedules, and lots of practical information.
With this short article, it is easy to understand the slogan of the tourist office of Burgos: ‘Origins and Destination’. A province that has given incredible archaeological discoveries to the world, which houses one of the most famous pilgrimage routes worldwide, and whose glorious medieval past delights us daily with monuments worthy of admiration.