Parral Park, Las Huelgas and the Hospital del Rey. The monumental richness of the city of Burgos offers travellers attractive routes from every direction. But without a doubt, the most emblematic building near the Abadía Hotel is the Royal Monastery of Las Huelgas, founded by King Alfonso VIII and Eleanor of England in 1187. Although it is now integrated into the urban centre of Burgos, it was originally located in a secluded setting, yet close enough to the city as it was an area for rest and leisure, a place of “huelgo”.

It was built as a royal pantheon, where the founding monarchs and members of the royal family are buried. Beyond the Royal Pantheon, the interior of the monastery offers great artistic wealth. Noteworthy elements include the Romanesque cloister known as “Las Claustrillas”, the Monastery’s church built following Cistercian Gothic models, the Gothic cloister of San Fernando, the Almohad-style Chapel of the Assumption, the Mudejar Chapel of Santiago, and the Medieval Textiles Museum, which houses one of the finest medieval textile collections in Europe.

After crossing Parral Park, we reach the Hospital del Rey, one of the most important institutions on the Camino de Santiago, now integrated into the University of Burgos campus. It was founded by King Alfonso VIII at the end of the 12th century and was under the jurisdiction of the Abbess of Las Huelgas. The original Cistercian construction was replaced by a new building during the reign of Emperor Charles I. Highlights include the plateresque Pilgrims’ Gate, which provides access to the Faculty of Law and the university rectorate. In the church, the 16th-century wooden doors attract attention, decorated with Jacobean motifs, among which stands out a woman breastfeeding her child while walking.

Route through the Parque de la Isla: Walking along the right bank of the Arlanzón River, upstream, we cross the Parque de la Isla, the most central and popular of all Burgos promenades. It took shape between the late 18th and 19th centuries through several urban interventions designed for leisure and inspired by the historical tastes of the period. All this has turned the park into a place of special charm, transforming it into a true botanical garden. A pleasant walk that leads directly to the city centre.