Discover Burgos: Nature, History and Trails

The Ojo Guareña natural monument in the Las Merindades region of Burgos is a karst area with a cave system whose main network comprises 110 kilometres of mapped galleries. The caves provide a habitat for 190 cave-dwelling species, many of them endemic, and show evidence of human use since prehistoric times.

When looking for holiday accommodation in Burgos, you can check travel dates, room category and cancellation policies side by side on the respective offer pages. The three details concern different aspects of personal planning and can be compared independently.

Nature and Landscapes

The Hoces del Alto Ebro y Rudrón Nature Park encompasses impressive gorges and narrow valleys formed by the Ebro and Rudrón rivers. Its various ecosystems range from heathlands to riparian forests. The same nature park is also home to Pozo Azul, known for its mysterious underground galleries.

The Lagunas Glaciares de Neila Nature Park encompasses several named glacial lagoons, including Laguna Negra, Cascada, Tejera, Haedillo, Patos, Pardillas and Brava. Species found there include the Eurasian otter, Iberian desman, white-throated dipper and kingfisher. The Casa del Parque de las Lagunas Glaciares de Neila combines an audiovisual room about the nature park’s natural and cultural values with a workshop room for activities.

Trails and Landscape Experiences

The Bosques del Arlanza mountain-bike route runs through the Sabinares del Arlanza at the foot of the sierra and connects Nebreda with Cebrecos and Castroceniza. The Sabinares del Arlanza Nature Park is also a refuge for birds of prey, including the Spanish imperial eagle and griffon vulture.

The B7-Sendero de las Lagunas trail starts at the car park for the Neila lagoons and follows a circular route along Laguna de la Cascada. Along the way, it offers views of the glacial lagoons Negra, Larga, Brava and de las Pradillas.

The French Way of St. James crosses the province of Burgos and, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, forms part of the world cultural heritage. It crosses Castile and León and can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. Castrojeriz is a historic Jacobean town; two kilometres of the pilgrims’ route to Santiago de Compostela run along its main street and the town’s central axis.

Culture and History

The Monasterio de las Huelgas in Burgos was founded on 1 June 1187 by King Alfonso VIII as the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria La Real de las Huelgas. The monastery contains the tombs of the aforementioned monarchs as well as the Pendón de las Navas, a carpet in the Almohad style.

Clunia was an ancient settlement of the Arevaci and remained active until the 5th century AD. It contains a theatre that was particularly large for its time, with rows of seats partly carved into the rock, as well as mosaics from the 2nd to the 4th century AD. The Castillo de los Duques de Frías features a keep, an irregularly square parade ground, a moat and towers at the corners.

The Museo Sonidos del Mundo extends across two exhibition levels and classifies the instruments into four major families. It is located near the Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos and displays more than 80 instruments from 30 countries in a restored 17th-century building.

Atapuerca and Visit Planning

The guided tour of the archaeological sites of the Sierra de Atapuerca takes place by bus from CAREX in Atapuerca or from CAYAC in Ibeas de Juarros. Advance reservation by telephone is required to visit the archaeological sites of the Sierra de Atapuerca and the Centro de Arqueología Experimental (CAREX).

Other places in the destination: Oquillas, Villagonzalo-Pedernales, San Adrián, Salas De Los Infantes, Rubena, Miranda De Ebro, Lerma, Hontoria, Covarrubias, Cogollos, Burgos, Briviesca, Aranda De Duero, Milagros, Castrillo Del Val, Madrigalejo Del Monte, Pancorbo, Castrojeriz, La Puebla De Arganzón, Mamolar, Santo Domingo De Silos, Viloria De Rioja, Espinosa De Cervera, Santa Inés, Gumiel De Mercado, Montorio, Las Quintanillas, Buniel, Villasur De Herreros, La Cueva De Roa, Quintanilla San García, Barrio De Muñó, Villarcayo, Quintanar De La Sierra, Quintana Del Puente, Monasterio De Rodilla, Royuela De Río Franco, Solarana, Poza De La Sal, Valle De Las Navas, Medianas, Sasamón, Quincoces De Yuso, Villanasur-Río De Oca, Quintanilla Vivar, Quisicedo, Loma De Montija, Jurisdicción De Lara, Valle De Zamanzas, Los Altos, Sedano, Renuncio, Cótar, Humienta, Villanueva De Carazo, Rublacedo De Abajo, Santa Gadea Del Cid, Bahabón De Esgueva, Peñacoba, La Rad, Busto De Bureba, Cavia, Modúbar De San Cibrián, Fuentespina, Cigüenza, Caleruega, Villafranca Montes De Oca, Espinosa De Los Monteros, Nela, La Revilla, Vilviestre Del Pinar, Cuevas De San Clemente, Población De Arreba, Hedeso, Oña, Zazuar, Crespos, Redecilla Del Camino, Guzmán, Canicosa De La Sierra, Villanueva De Las Carretas, Montejo De San Miguel, Hortigüela, Estépar, Fuentelcésped, Sotillo De La Ribera, Berlangas De Roa, La Horra, Nava De Roa, Pedrosa De Duero, El Berrón, Trespaderne, Hornillos Del Camino, Pesquera De Ebro, Belorado, San Millán De Lara, Rebolledo De La Torre, Arija, Palazuelos De La Sierra, Atapuerca, Frías, Villamartín De Villadiego, Padilla De Abajo, Miraveche, Barbadillo Del Pez, Tardajos, Neila, Pradoluengo, Brizuela, San Medel, Cozuela, San Juan De Ortega, Cebolleros, Ailanes, Los Tomillares, Santa Cruz De La Salceda, Olmos De Atapuerca, Montejo De Cebas, Castildelgado, Puentedura, Hontoria De Valdearados, Villarias, Agüera, Sotragero, Nava De Ordunte, Olmillos De Sasamón, Pardilla, Orbaneja del Castillo, Arroyal, Quemada, Lodoso, Castrillo de la Vega, Armentia, La Orden, Cabanas de Virtus, Las Merindades, Peñaranda de Duero, Citores del Páramo, Medina de Pomar, Escalada, Masa, Quintanilla Riopico, Ahedo del Butrón, San Vicente del Valle, Rabanera del Pinar, Villafría, Villanueva de Lastra, Valdelateja, Orbaneja Riopico, Fresneda de la Sierra Tirón, Remolino, Zuzones, Arenillas de Villadiego, Cadiñanos, Carcedo de Burgos, Villalmóndar, Hermosilla, Soncillo, Bisjueces, Pedrosa de Valdeporres, Baños de Valdearados, Bárcenas, Villanueva de Argaño, Salazar, Rabé de las Calzadas, Valdenoceda, Tubilla del Lago, Isar, Melgar de Fernamental, Villalbilla de Burgos, Ros, Ibeas de Juarros, Cilleruelo de Bezana, Vadocondes, Quintanilla del Agua, San Millán de San Zadornil, Tubilla del Agua, Alarcia, Campillo de Aranda, Miñón, Llano de Bureba.

Wine and Regional Culture

At La Vid, the Ribera del Duero wine designation reaches the territory of the province of Burgos. Along the Duero Route, there are wineries and underground wine cellars in Fresnillo de las Dueñas. In the red wines of the DO Ribera del Duero, the Tempranillo grape variety plays an important role alongside the soil, climate and oenological work.

To the higher-level travel overview: Castile and León.