BURGOS, Spain, city, the capital of the province of Burgos, and formerly of Old Cas tile, and once the residence of its kings. It stands on the declivity of a hill, on the right bank of the Arlanzon. The streets are narrow and dark, the finest in every respect being that called the Huerto del Rey. Places of promenade are numerous; the one most frequented, and justly forming the boast of the town, being the Espolon. The most remarkable structure is the cathedral, one of the finest buildings of the kind in Europe. It was begun in 1221, but was not finished for several centuries. It is built of white marble in the form of a Latin cross, and is about 300 feet long by 200 broad, and its size is such that service can be performed in eight chapels at once without confusion. Its interior, as well as its exterior, is of great magnificence, is adorned with fine carvings and paintings, and contains numerous monuments, in particular the tombs of Don Fernando and the Cid, both natives of Burgos, and celebrated throughout Spain for their heroic achievements in the wars with the Moors. There are several other fine
churches, but the rest of the public buildings are not deserving of notice. The wool of Old Castile passes principally through Bingos, and it has some woolen manufactures and hat mak ing. Burgos is the see of an archbishop, and at one time contained a university. It was founded about the close of the 9th century as the capital city of the courts of Castile and Leon and soon became a flourishing city, reach ing the height of its prosperity in the 15th cen tury, when it shared with Toledo the prestige of being occupied as a royal residence. It declined rapidly after the removal of the court to Madrid in 1560. To-day, despite its decay, the city is dominated by the grand old cathedral and the personality of the national hero, the Cid Campeador. Pop. about 31,400. The province ot Burgos is bounded on the north by Santan der, east by Alava, Logrotio and Soria, south by Segovia and west by Palencia and Vallado lid. The area is 5,650 square miles. Pop. about 340,000.