Burgos Museum, Burgos, Spain - SpottingHistory.com

Burgos Museum offers the chance for visitors to explore the historical and cultural evolution of this province in the Castile-León region. It has various different sections such as prehistory and archaeology, located in the Casa de Miranda, a Renaissance palace. Here you can see objects from Atapuerca and Ojo Guareña, and also from the Iron Age necropolis of Miraveche, Ubierna and Villanueva de Teba, along with Roman artefacts from the city of Clunia.

The building Casa de Angulo is home to the Fine Arts section, which has a major collection of exhibits ranging from the Mozarabic period through to the present day, with items such as the Romanesque frontal from the church of Santo Domingo de Silos and the tomb of Juan de Padilla by Gil de Siloé, along with 15th- and 16th-century paintings and works of art from the Baroque period.

References:

spain.info

Museums in Spain

User Reviews

Gianmarco Giunti (10 months ago)
I was expecting a little bit more extensive experience. More engagement, more storytelling.

Alexa F (11 months ago)
An interesting walk through history. Complying with all regulations regarding covid safety measures.

Helen Rickard (2 years ago)
Very interesting and enjoyable although a section on the disputes and disagreements over the timeline would be a really helpful addition.

Berglind Margo Þorvaldsdóttir Tryggvason (2 years ago)
Great museum. Very interesting and well built. We loved it. One comment I have is that animal species are sometimes mentioned next to bome but it would be great to have their pictures there as well (for those of us who do not know them ;) ). Almost everything is translated to English which is a big plus.

Ana Karina Sánchez Gamboa (3 years ago)
The place turns more interesting as you go farther in. One of its greatest accomplishments in my opinion is how a very scientific subject that could be unfriendly for the general public is made so interesting and engaging. There’s a nice balance between the extremely minimal architecture the gorgeous lighting and the displays, making it easier to go through all the information without feeling overwhelmed by it. They have many interactive displays that allow you to have a full learning experience. Nevertheless, it is necessary to take the time to read and interact with said displays to be able to understand and enjoy the experience, it takes a long time to do the full circuit and though you most likely won’t be bored, you might get tired luckily, they have places for you to sit and rest a library with vending machines and you can even go outside and return later that same day with the same ticket (at least that was my experience). They also have temporary exhibitions.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Luiyo

Historic Site of the week

Lorca Castle

Castle of Lorca (Castillo de Lorca) is a fortress of medieval origin constructed between the 9th and 15th centuries. It consists of a series of defensive structures that, during the Middle Ages, made the town and the fortress an impregnable point in the southeast part of the Iberian Peninsula. Lorca Castle was a key strategic point of contention between Christians and Muslims during the Reconquista.

Archaeological excavations have revealed that the site of the castle has been inhabited since Neolithic times.

Muslim Era

It has not been determined exactly when a castle or fortress was first built on the hill. The first written documentation referring to a castle at Lorca is of Muslim origin, which in the 9th century, indicates that the city of Lurqa was an important town in the area ruled by Theudimer (Tudmir). During Muslim rule, Lorca Castle was an impregnable fortress and its interior was divided into two sections by the Espaldón Wall. In the western part, there was an area used to protect livestock and grain in times of danger. The eastern part had a neighbourhood called the barrio de Alcalá.

After Reconquista

Lorca was conquered by the Castilian Infante Don Alfonso, the future Alfonso X, in 1244, and the fortress became a key defensive point against the Kingdom of Granada. For 250 years, Lorca Castle was a watchpoint on the border between the Christian kingdom of Murcia and the Muslim state of Granada.

Alfonso X ordered the construction of the towers known as the Alfonsina and Espolón Towers, and strengthened and fixed the walls. Hardly a trace of the Muslim fortress remained due to this reconstruction. Muslim traces remain in the foundation stones and the wall known as the muro del Espaldón.

The Jewish Quarter was found within the alcazaba, the Moorish fortification, separated from the rest of the city by its walls. The physical separation had the purpose of protecting the Jewish people in the town from harm, but also had the result of keeping Christians and Jews separate, with the Christians inhabiting the lower part of town.

The remains of the Jewish Quarter extended over an area of 5,700 square m, and 12 homes and a synagogue have been found; the synagogue dates from the 14th century and is the only one found in the Murcia. The streets of the town had an irregular layout, adapted to the landscape, and is divided into four terraces. The synagogue was in the central location, and around it were the homes. The homes were of rectangular shape, with various compartmentalized rooms. The living quarters were elevated and a common feature was benches attached to the walls, kitchens, stand for earthenware jars, or cupboards.

Modern history

With the disappearance of the frontier after the conquest of Granada in 1492, Lorca Castle no longer became as important as before. With the expulsion of the Jews by order of Ferdinand and Isabella, Lorca Castle was also depopulated as a result. The castle was abandoned completely, and was almost a complete ruin by the 18th century. In the 19th century, the castle was refurbished due to the War of Spanish Independence. The walls and structures were repaired or modified and its medieval look changed. A battery of cannons was installed, for example, during this time. In 1931 Lorca Castle was declared a National Historic Monument.

Currently, a parador (luxury hotel) has been built within the castle. As a result, archaeological discoveries have been found, including the Jewish Quarter.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Burgos Museum

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Rhodes, The Island of Knights

Great Spa Towns of Europe

History of Guernsey & Jersey

Historic Site of the week

Lorca Castle

Muslim Era

After Reconquista

Modern history

Looks like you are a history fan!