Burgos - Cathedral

The construction of the cathedral was ordered by King Ferdinand III of Castile and Mauricio, the Bishop of Burgos. Ferdinand had just married Barbarossa´s granddaughter Beatrice of Swabia (aka "Elisabeth of Swabia") and wanted a cathedral, reflecting his new role in the European power game.

The former Romanesque cathedral got demolished and on July 20, 1221, the construction of the new Gothic started under the guidance of an unknown French architect. After nine years, the chevet was completed and the high altar was consecrated. Then the construction stopped for about 200 years.

Attending the Council of Basel (aka "Council of Florence") in 1435 bishop (and diplomat) Alfonso de Cartagena saw the just completed, elegant towers of the Basel Minster. When he returned to Burgos he was accompanied by German architect Johannes von Köln (aka "Juan de Colonia"), who probably knew the blueprints of the towers, planned for the Cathedral of Cologne. Under his guidance the towers of the
Cathedral were completed in open tracery. He was followed on the construction site by his son Simon de Colonia.

The crossing tower collapsed in 1539, but got rebuilt, so that in 1567 the Cathedral was finally completed.

Seen here is the north transept portal, known as "Portada de la Coroneria", erected around 1240 and permanently locked since 1830. Over the centuries residents had entered the cathedral here and by using the opposite portal as an exit, had a nice short cut to the market.

Flanking the doors are the 12 apostles. The Last Judgement is on the tympanum above. Christ seated on a throne between the Virgin and John the Evangelist, angels display the Instruments of the Passion (aka "Arma Christi").

Below is a psychostasia. Archangel Michael weighs the souls. Following the information given here Ferdinand III and Beatriz can be found on the left, on their way to Paradise. The road to hell (paved with good intentions) runs to the right.


www.catedraldeburgos.es/