Burgos Cathedral

Gothic cathedral begun in 1221 on the orders of Ferdinand III and Bishop Mauricio, to plans of French origin (Reims and Bourges are clearly behind them). The two tall towers with their openwork spires are fifteenth-century, by the German master Juan de Colonia, and the lantern over the crossing is sixteenth-century, by Juan de Vallejo. World Heritage since 1984. Under the crossing lie the remains of El Cid and his wife Jimena, brought here in 1921 after several changes of address since the monastery of Cardeña.