Burgos Cathedral - Spain

I've a thing for religious temples and looking at this cathedral is impossible not to feel amazed by its intricate gothic style and all the other impressive architectural features and details. I would love to visit it. 

These cards have been sent many years ago by Janine and Manuela. 

 

"The Burgos Cathedral is a Gothic-style cathedral in Burgos. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is famous for its vast size and unique architecture. Its construction began in 1221, following French Gothic parameters. 

It had very important modifications in the 15th and 16th centuries (spires of the principal façade, Chapel of the Constable, cimborio of the transept: these elements of advanced Gothic give the cathedral its distinguished profile). The last works of importance occurred during the 18th century, the century in which the Gothic statuary of the doors of the principal façade was also dismantled completely. At the beginning of the 20th century, some semidetached construction to the cathedral was eliminated, such as the Archepiscopal Palace and the upper floor of the cloister. The style of the cathedral is Gothic, although it has some Renaissance and Baroque works. 

The cathedral was declared a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO on October 31 of 1984. It is the only Spanish cathedral that has this distinction independiently, without being joined to the historic center of a city (as in Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, Ávila, Córdoba, Toledo or Cuenca) or in union with others buildings, as in Seville." - in: wikipedia 

 

© edilesa, 2005 - Photo by Archivo Edilesa / Norberto

The Door of the Sarmental, which was built in the purest Gothic style and finished around 1235, is on the South façade. It is the most classical and elegant of the Cathedral Doors because of its perfect proportions and the beauty of its sculpture-work. The central figure of the tympanum is Christ, Majesty, Master with the Book of Wisdom in his hand, surrounded by the four evangelists and their symbols. Below in the lintel, you can see the twelve apostles holding the gospel in their hands. The statues on the jambs were replaced in the 17th Century and show Aaron and Moses on the left and St Peter and St Paul on the right. In the mullion there is a statue of a bishop, successor to Christ the Teacher, who may be Don Mauricio, the bishop who started the Cathedral. In the archivolts, there are angels holding candles and the Old men of the Apocalypse. - in: http://www.catedraldeburgos.es