El Gothic It is the style that I like the most. Maybe I like everything that has to do with the Middle Ages and those stories of kings, knights and ladies... Gothic architecture I find it magical, beautiful, like a bridge between the human and the divine.
And to enjoy this architectural style there is nothing better than cathedrals, that's why I invite you to visit the best gothic cathedrals in Spain.
Gothic art
In this style of art that developed during the late Middle Ages, around the middle of the XNUMXth century. Technically we can say that it was born with the Cathedral of Saint Denis, in France, and that It lasted until the XNUMXth century.
Born in France but it spreads throughout the West and, depending on the country, it does so in different years and with different styles that have to do with the countries or regions. It coincides with the birth of cities, bourgeoisie and universities, but also with the appearance of new religious ordersoses like the Franciscans, the Dominicans or the Cistercians.
The Gothic leaves Romanesque art behind and the cathedrals are his main work: huge, tall, with very good luz, pointed bow, a ribbed vault, flying buttresses, stylized pillars, capitals, statues, gargoyles and huge rose windows and stained glass.
Spanish Gothic prevails in the late Middle Ages, y It begins timidly, mixing at first with Romanesque architecture. Ehe pure Gothic enters Spain along the pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago, in the XNUMXth century, and that is when some of the purest Gothic cathedrals in the kingdom began to be built.
When talking about Spanish Gothic, a classification of styles is usually made: speaking of different "Gothics." Namely, the early gothic from the XNUMXth century, the full gothic from the XNUMXth century, later the Mudejar Gothic, from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century, the Levantine Gothic, in the XIV, the Valencian Gothic, in the XIV and XV, the Catalan Gothic, late gothic of the XNUMXth century, the Elizabethan Gothic from the XNUMXth century and plataresco of the same century.
Let's see now the best Gothic cathedrals in Spain.
Burgos cathedral
For many, the best Gothic cathedral in Spain is the Cathedral of Burgos. The foundation stone was laid in July 1221 with the presence of its promoters, Ferdinand II of Castile and Bishop Mauricio. Around 1240 he took the reins of the project Master Enrique, French, and it is said that sand inspired by the Reims Cathedral.
The construction was not slow and by 1238, Bishop Mauricio had already died, his remains had been buried in the presbytery and the works on the transept, the side naves and the chancel were well advanced. So, In 1260 the temple could be consecrated and continue with construction in the following years.
Thus, the Cathedral of Burgos became a huge temple with three bodies topped by two side towers with a square floor plan. In the XNUMXth century openwork needles appeared. From the XNUMXth century are the façades of the Coronería and the Sarmental, and from the XNUMXth century and with Plataresque and Renaissance influences is the façade of the Pellejería. A walk inside the cathedral is something you cannot miss when visiting Burgos.
Burgos Cathedral It has been a National Monument and World Heritage Site since 1984, thus being the only one with such distinction because it is not linked to a complex or historic center.
Leon Cathedral
The temple It began to be built in the year 1205 but from the beginning had foundation problems since it was built on Roman ruins, and the works stopped and only restarted fifty years later, under the reign of Alfonso X the Wise. Then, over time, on several occasions they had to do some more work to solve the problems that kept appearing.
It's a cathedral very gothic and it seems that its architect was the same Master Enrique who gave the first life to the Burgos Cathedral. Well steeped in French Gothic architecture, the building bears his signature. But Enrique died in 1277 and was replaced by the Spanish Juan Pérez. Yes ok The fundamental structure of the temple was completed quickly, in 1302, some works were only completed in the XNUMXth century.
The Cathedral of León It reminds us of the Cathedral of Reims, in France.. It is a great representative of French Gothic and that goes hand in hand with the fact that the city was at that time one of the most important points of the Camino de Santiago, also called French Way since it started in that country.
It has three naves and a transept, the nave measures 90 meters long and 30 meters high, while the birds measure 15 meters high. The stone walls have been replaced by openings with stained glass and this transforms the Cathedral of Burgos into a building of impressive luminosity, studded with colors because Gothic stained glass windows were made with small colored crystals that were leaded.
The temple was subject to iimportant reforms in the XNUMXth century because it was in very poor condition, and these works ended in 1901 with its reopening to the public. Gothic shines in all its splendor. Later, more restorations were made in the XNUMXth and XNUMXst centuries.
Toledo Cathedral
She would be considered the Spanish Gothic masterpiece and its construction also begins in the XNUMXth century under the reign of Ferdinand III the Saint, but the works continued until the XNUMXth century, already under the reign of the Catholic Monarchs.
Church It has an interesting story: Toledo was reconquered by Alfonso VI, king of León and Castile, in 1085. When the capitulation was discussed, it was agreed that the city would not suffer any bloodbath and the king promised to leave standing and respect the buildings of Muslim worship. In that group of buildings there was obviously the mosque.
But they say that shortly after the king had to leave for a time and that in his absence his wife together with Abbot Bernard of Cluny, then archbishop of Toledo, sent soldiers to the mosque to take it by force. When the king found out, he became enraged and ordered everyone involved killed, except his wife and the abbot. After intense negotiations the tension dissipated and it seems that is why the mosque was consecrated as a cathedral without many changes to its structure.
Obviously new works were done to establish a Christian cult so the main chapel and the presbytery appeared. As we see it today, the Cathedral of Toledo dates back to the time of King Ferdinand III the Saint and Archbishop Rodrigo Xiénez de Rada.. So, the cathedral-mosque was already somewhat old and had become less beautiful or elegant, considering the beauty of Toledo. Then the construction of a new Gothic style cathedral was promoted.
The Cathedral of Toledo It is French Gothic style but with Spanish airs. You have 59 meters wide by 120 meters long, five landings, transept and double ambulatory. The original triforiums along the naves were replaced by enormous windows and the Mudejar style ones can still be seen today.
Today, if you visit Toledo and stop at the town hall square you will see it in all its beauty, near the town hall itself and the Archbishop's Palace.
Cathedral of Sevilla
On the grounds of the current cathedral The Great Mosque of Seville stood in times of Muslim domination. At that time it was an elegant building designed by the Andalusian architect Ahmad Ben Baso with a rectangular floor plan that had 17 naves with horseshoe arches and a huge patio.
With the Christian reconquest in 1248 the mosque became a cathedral. The Muslim building was used for a century and a half until new works began to completely change its style. So it was demolished, they say that with the excuse that it was in ruins, and construction of a new temple began in 1434, only being completed in 1506. The following year the temple was finally consecrated.
Seville Cathedral It is built with stones from more than 20 quarries. Its tower and bell tower, the famous Giralda, is 104 meters high and resembles the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque in Morocco. He Patio de los Naranjos It used to be the ablution courtyard in the times of the mosque: measures 43 by 81 meters and it is accessed from the street through the Puerta del Perdón, beautifully decorated and with wooden leaves covered in bronze.
Then the Cathedral of Seville would go through some renovations that gave it Renaissance, baroque, academic and neo-Gothic features, between the mid-XNUMXth century and the beginning of the XNUMXth.
These are some of the best gothic cathedrals in Spain. Of course they are not the only ones. Surely you think about the Cathedral of Ávila, the Cathedral of Barcelona, that of Oviedo, the Cathedral of Valencia, that of Pamplona, Palencia, Gerona, Segovia or that of Palma de Mallorca, For example. A quick list lists at least 14 Gothic cathedrals in Spain truly impressive, true architectural heritage that you cannot miss.