Jump to content

Province of Burgos

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Burgos Province)
Province of Burgos
Provincia de Burgos
Province
Flag of Province of Burgos
Flag
Coat of arms of Province of Burgos
Coat of arms
Location of the Province of Burgos in Spain
Location of the Province of Burgos in Spain
Coordinates: 42°23′N 3°40′W / 42.383°N 3.667°W / 42.383; -3.667
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityCastile and León
CapitalBurgos
Municipalities371 (list)
Government
 • TypeDiputación
 • BodyProvincial Deputation of Burgos [es]
 • PresidentBorja Suárez Pedrosa (PP)
Area
[1]
 • Total
14,288.63 km2 (5,516.87 sq mi)
 • Rank11th in Spain
 2.8% of Spain
Highest elevation
(Pico San Millán)
2,131 m (6,991 ft)
Lowest elevation
(Ayega River)
150 m (490 ft)
Population
 (2025)[2]
 • Total
362,663
 • Rank36th in Spain
 • Density25.3812/km2 (65.7371/sq mi)
 0.7% of Spain
Demonym(s)Burgalese, burgalés/a
ISO 3166 codeES-BU
Websitewww.burgos.es

The Province of Burgos (Spanish: Provincia de Burgos [ˈbuɾɣos] ⓘ) is a province of northern Spain, in the northeastern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It has a population of 362,663 in an area of 14,288.63 square kilometres (5,516.87 sq mi) across its 371 municipalities—the highest number of municipalities of any Spanish province.[2][1]

The capital and largest city is Burgos, while other important urban centres include Miranda de Ebro and Aranda de Duero. It is bordered by the autonomous communities of Cantabria, the Basque Country (provinces of Biscay and Álava), and La Rioja, as well as by the provinces of Soria, Segovia, Valladolid, and Palencia, all within Castile and León. Together with Zaragoza, it is the Spanish province that borders the highest number of other provinces, with a total of eight.

The province has a diverse landscape and is crossed by two of the main river basins of the Iberian Peninsula: the Ebro in the north and the Douro in the south. Its territory includes mountainous and wooded areas such as the Iberian System in the southeast, including Pico San Millán, the highest peak in the province, and the Cantabrian Mountains in the north, as well as extensive plains and agricultural lands, with cereal farming in areas such as La Bureba and Odra-Pisuerga, alongside vineyards in the Ribera del Duero and Arlanza wine regions.

The province has significant historical importance, as it was a key territory in the formation of the Kingdom of Castile, and the city of Burgos served as an early capital.[3] It is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca, which contains some of the oldest human remains in Europe; the Burgos Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece; and the Camino de Santiago, one of the most important pilgrimage routes in Europe. Burgos is also rich in cultural and architectural heritage, with numerous monasteries, castles, and historic towns distributed throughout the province. In addition, the Cartularies of Valpuesta, from the burgalese monastery of Santa María de Valpuesta, are considered to be among the oldest known documents containing words written in the Spanish language.[4]

Etymology

[edit]

The name of the province derives from that of its capital, the city of Burgos, and therefore shares the same etymological origin. There are several possible origins for the toponymy. When the city was founded, the inhabitants of the surrounding country moved into the fortified village, whose Visigothic name of Burgos signified consolidated walled villages[citation needed] (Gothic baurgs).[5] The cities Burgas in Bulgaria and numerous cities containing the Germanic burg "city" such as Hamburg have a similar literal composition. The city began to be called Caput Castellae ("Cabeza de Castilla" or "Head of Castile").[6]

Overview

[edit]

Since 1964, archaeologists have been working at numerous areas of the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca, where they have found ancient hominid and human remains, the former dating to more than one million years ago, with artefacts from the Palaeolithic and Bronze Ages of man. The site has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most important rivers in the province are the Ebro and the Duero. The river Duero is in the south of the province and leads to the Atlantic Ocean at Porto, Portugal. Planted near it is a notable vineyard, Ribera de Duero. The north and south-east of the province are mountainous. The Ebro flows to the Mediterranean Sea.

In Valpuesta the oldest texts in the Spanish language has been found, dating from the tenth century.[7]

Transportation is developed through a wide net of highways and roads. Besides, the province is served by the Burgos Airport, and The High-speed rail AVE.

Standing at 2,131 metres above sea level, the highest mountain in the province is the Pico San Millán, also known as El Torruco.[8]

History

[edit]
Province of Burgos in 1590.

In the Atapuerca area, archaeologists have found evidence of occupation by hominids and humans for more than one million years. Discoveries have included the earliest hominid skull in Europe.

The Celtiberian region that became Burgos was inhabited by the Morgobos, Turmodigi, Berones and perhaps also the Pellendones, the last inhabitants of the northern part of the Celtiberian region. According to the Greek historian Ptolemy, the principal cities included: Brabum, Sisara, Deobrigula (nowadays Tardajos), Ambisna Segiasamon (Sasamón) and Verovesca (Briviesca). Under Roman colonization, it was part of Hispania Citerior ("Hither Spain") and then Hispania Tarraconensis.

In the fifth century, the Visigoths drove back the Suevi. In the eighth century, the Arabs occupied all of Castiles. Alfonso III the Great, king of León reconquered the area around the middle of the ninth century, and built many castles for the defence of Christendom. Gradually the area was reconquered. The region came to be known as Castile (Latin castella), i.e. "land of castles". In the eleventh century, Burgos became the capital of the Kingdom of Castile.

Government and politics

[edit]
Provincial Palace of Burgos, headquarters of the Provincial Government.

The Province of Burgos was established by the Royal Decree of 29 October 1833, driven by the minister Javier de Burgos, like the rest of the provinces of the country (see: 1833 territorial division of Spain). This division considered the common historic, cultural, and economic characteristics of each territory.

The Diputación Provincial de Burgos (Provincial Deputation of Burgos [es]) is responsible for the government and administration of the province of Burgos, in accordance with the Statute of Autonomy of Castile and León. Its headquarters are located in the Provincial Palace of Burgos.

Its current president since 2023 is Borja Suárez Pedrosa, from the People's Party (PP).

Political divisions

[edit]
Comarcas of the province of Burgos.

Today, the province does not have official political divisions, but historically it has been divided into several comarcas. The province of Burgos is divided in 10 comarcas (a Spanish term for shires).

  • Páramos, also known as Sedano y Las Loras, occupies the northwestern sector of the province of Burgos. It borders Las Merindades and the autonomous community of Cantabria to the north, the province of Palencia to the west, La Bureba to the east, and Odra-Pisuerga and Alfoz de Burgos to the south. Its capital is Sedano. Geologically part of the limestone plateaus, moorlands, and river canyons protected under Las Loras UNESCO Global Geoparque, this territory stands out for housing the Ayoluengo oil field, Spain's only historical onshore oil field.[12] Historically, it suffers from severe rural depopulation, holding the record for the lowest population density in all of Spain (approx. 1.3/km² or 3.4/sq mi).[13] It comprises 8 municipalities, with 55 localities, and holds a total population of 1,746 inhabitants (INE 2024).
  • Ebro, also known as Valle de Ebro, occupies the far northeastern edge of the province of Burgos. It borders the Basque province of Álava to the north and east, the autonomous community of La Rioja to the south, and La Bureba to the west. Its capital is Miranda de Ebro. Geographically, it is characterized by its strategic river valley location, crossed from northwest to southeast by the Ebro River, and bounded by the Obarenes Mountains to the west.[14] Historically and culturally, it is notable for its key role as an industrial and logistical crossroads between the Meseta, the Ebro Basin, and the Basque Country, and for encompassing the ancient and unique administrative enclave of Treviño. It comprises 10 municipalities, with 66 localities, and holds a total population of 39,212 inhabitants (INE 2024).
  • La Bureba: occupies the northeastern area of the province of Burgos.[15] It borders Las Merindades to the north, Ebro to the east, Montes de Oca to the south, and Páramos and Alfoz de Burgos to the west. Its capital is Briviesca. Geographically, it is characterized by a fertile agricultural depression watered by multiple streams flowing into the Ebro via the Oca, Tirón and Homino rivers, bordered to the northwest by the unique geological formation of the Poza de la Sal salt diapir,[16] and to the east by the strategic gorge of Pancorbo. Historically and culturally, it is notable for being the ancient settlement of the pre-Roman Autrigones tribe, famously defined by the writer Azorín as 'the heart of the land of Burgos' and a miniature representative of the Castilian landscape.[17] It comprises 44 municipalities, with 50 localities, and holds a total population of 10,117 inhabitants (INE 2024).
  • Montes de Oca: occupies the eastern strip of the province of Burgos. It borders La Bureba to the north, the Sierra de la Demanda to the south, the autonomous community of La Rioja to the east, and Alfoz de Burgos to the west. Its capital is Belorado. Geographically, it transitions from a rugged mountain terrain covered in dense oak, beech, and pine forests in the southwest to the rolling agricultural landscape of La Riojilla Burgalesa to the northeast. Historically and culturally, it is notable for its connection to Jacobean history along the Camino de Santiago,[18] and for the rich textile industrial heritage of Pradoluengo.[19] It comprises 26 municipalities, with 35 localities, and holds a total population of 4,932 inhabitants (INE 2024).
  • Alfoz de Burgos: occupies the geographic center of the province of Burgos. It is bordered to the north by Páramos and La Bureba, to the east by Montes de Oca and Sierra de la Demanda, to the south by Arlanza, and to the west by Odra-Pisuerga. Its capital is Burgos. Geographically, it is characterized by an open plateau basin centered around the Arlanzón River valley, transitioning from the northern Cantabrian foothills and eastern slopes of the Demanda range into the rolling cereal plains to the west and the rugged limestone plateaus to the south. Historically and culturally, it is notable for housing the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Atapuerca Mountains and the Burgos Cathedral,[20][21] and being traversed by the Camino de Santiago—as well as serving as the primary demographic, political, and industrial hub of the province. It comprises 59 municipalities, with 112 localities, and holds a total population of 203,243 inhabitants (INE 2024).
  • Sierra de la Demanda, also known as La Demanda y Pinares, occupies the southeastern corner of the province of Burgos.[22] It borders Alfoz de Burgos and Montes de Oca to the north, the autonomous community of La Rioja and the province of Soria to the east, Ribera del Duero to the south, and Arlanza to the west. Its capital is Salas de los Infantes. Geographically, it encompasses the burgalese southern slopes of the Sierra de la Demanda range—crowned by the rounded Pico San Millán, the highest peak in the province—and the upper valleys of the Arlanza and Arlanzón rivers, featuring prominent glacial lakes like the ones in Neila.[23] Historically and culturally, it is notable for its traditional pine-gathering forestry culture, its Romanesque architecture, and its significant dinosaur footprint paleontological sites.[24] It comprises 48 municipalities, with 24 localities, and holds a total population of 10,082 inhabitants (INE 2024).
  • Odra-Pisuerga: occupies the western edge of the province of Burgos. It borders Páramos to the north, the province of Palencia to the west and southwest, Arlanza to the southeast, and Alfoz de Burgos to the east. Its capital is Villadiego. Geographically, it transitions from the rugged limestone cliffs of Peña Amaya in the north down to rolling cereal plains and fertile river valleys shaped by the Odra and Pisuerga rivers, and the historic Canal de Castilla to the west.[25] Historically and culturally, it is notable for its rich rural Romanesque heritage, its traditional agricultural economy, and the Jacobean landmark of Castrojeriz along the Camino de Santiago.[26] It comprises 45 municipalities, with 60 localities, and holds a total population of 8,941 inhabitants (INE 2024).
  • Arlanza: occupies the central-southern territory of the province of Burgos.[27] It borders Odra-Pisuerga and Alfoz de Burgos to the north, Sierra de la Demanda to the east, Ribera del Duero to the south, and the province of Palencia to the west. Its official capital is Lerma. Geographically, its landscape transitions from the rugged mountains, ancient juniper forests, and deep limestone canyon of La Yecla in the east,[28] to open cereal plains and traditional vineyards in the west. Historically and culturally, it is renowned for its legendary medieval heritage, showcasing monumental towns like the ducal villa of Lerma and Santa María del Campo,[29] the timber-framed village of Covarrubias,[30] and the abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos.[31] It comprises 54 municipalities, with 22 localities, and holds a total population of 9,167 inhabitants (INE 2024).
  • Ribera del Duero: occupies the southernmost zone of the province of Burgos.[32] It borders Arlanza and Sierra de la Demanda to the north, the province of Soria to the east, the province of Segovia to the south, and the provinces of Palencia and Valladolid to the west and southwest. Its capital is Aranda de Duero. Geographically, it is characterized by the wide sedimentary Douro River basin, transitioning from the modest Esgueva Valley in the north to the rugged limestone plateaus and the northern foothills of the Central System at its southern extreme. Historically and culturally, it is internationally renowned for the famous Ribera del Duero DO wine region, its medieval underground cellars,[33] and the Roman ruins of the ancient city of Clunia,[34] alongside monumental towns like Aranda de Duero, Peñaranda de Duero, and Roa de Duero. It comprises 65 municipalities, with 14 localities, and holds a total population of 50,324 inhabitants (INE 2024).

Municipalities

[edit]
Map of municipalities in the province of Burgos.

The province of Burgos is divided into 371 municipalities, being the Spanish province with the highest number, although many of them have fewer than 100 inhabitants.

Judicial districts

[edit]
Judicial districts of the province of Burgos

Judicial districts (Partidos judiciales) are territorial groupings of municipalities that serve a dual purpose: they organize the local administration of justice and act as the electoral constituencies to elect the provincial councillors of the Diputación Provincial de Burgos.[35]

  • Aranda de Duero (elects 3 councillors)
  • Briviesca (elects 1 councillor)
  • Burgos (elects 15 councillors)
  • Lerma (elects 1 councillor)
  • Miranda de Ebro (elects 3 councillors)
  • Salas de los Infantes (elects 1 councillor)
  • Villarcayo de Merindad de Castilla la Vieja (elects 1 councillor)

Demographics

[edit]

As of 2025, the population is 362,663, of which 50.0% are male, and 50.0% are female. Minors make up 14.7% of the population, and seniors make up 25.6%.[2]

Immigration

[edit]

As of 2025, immigrants make up 14.4% of the population. The 5 largest foreign countries of birth are Colombia, Romania, Morocco, Venezuela, and Ecuador.[2]

Most populous municipalities

[edit]

Considering that the metropolitan area of Burgos has around 200,000 inhabitants, including municipalities such as Alfoz de Quintanadueñas, Villagonzalo Pedernales, and Arcos de la Llana, there is a strong concentration of population around the capital. Together with the urban areas of Burgos, Aranda de Duero, and Miranda de Ebro—accounting for over 75% of the provincial population—this creates a clear contrast with the province's rural areas. Much of the territory is affected by depopulation, with many small municipalities having very low population levels, often below 100 inhabitants.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Información Geográfica Destacada" [Geographical information data] (in Spanish). IGN.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Annual population census 2021-2025". INE.
  3. ↑ Arias Guillén, Fernando (2013). "A kingdom without a capital? Itineration and spaces of royal power in Castile, c. 1252–1350". Journal of Medieval History. 39 (4): 456–476. doi:10.1080/03044181.2013.830981. S2CID 219564625.
  4. ↑ "Origin and history of Spanish language: First manuscripts". 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-04-05.
  5. ↑ Wright, Joseph, 1892, A Primer of the Gothic Language, glossary & section 182.
  6. ↑  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Burgos". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  7. ↑ Valpuesta Foundation is born with the aimn to study and promote Castilian since its very origins
  8. ↑ "Fallece un montañero en el pico San Millán". El Mirón de Soria. 14 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "Las Merindades | Excma. Diputacion Provincial de Burgos". www.burgos.es. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  10. ↑ "Ojo Guareña Natural Monument in Spain | spain.info". Spain.info. Archived from the original on 2025-09-17. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  11. ↑ Permalink, zidane. "Cascada del Nervion - European waterfalls". Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  12. ↑ Jorge Navarro Comet (2018). "Ayoluengo's history – Spain's only onshore oil field". Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 465 (1): 333–344. Bibcode:2018GSLSP.465..333N. doi:10.1144/SP465.9. S2CID 219204104.
  13. ↑ Iglesia, Gabriel de la (2026-03-19). "La comarca con menor densidad de población de España está en Burgos" [The comarca with the lowest population density in Spain is in Burgos.]. BURGOSconecta (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  14. ↑ "Montes Obarenes Natural Park". Official Portal of Tourism. Junta de Castilla y León. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  15. ↑ "La Bureba | Excma. Diputacion Provincial de Burgos". www.burgos.es. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  16. ↑ "Poza de la Sal".
  17. ↑ "La Bureba region". www.in-spain.net. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  18. ↑ "Villafranca Montes de Oca". Official Portal of Tourism. Junta de Castilla y León. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  19. ↑ Martín García, Juan José (2007). La industria textil de Pradoluengo (1534 - 2007): la pervivencia de un núcleo industrial [The Textile Industry In Pradoluengo, 1534-2007]. Estudios de historia. Valladolid: Junta de Castilla y León, Consejería de Cultura y Turismo. ISBN 978-84-9718-425-0.
  20. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Archaeological Site of Atapuerca". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  21. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Burgos Cathedral". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  22. ↑ "La Demanda y Pinares | Excma. Diputacion Provincial de Burgos". www.burgos.es. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  23. ↑ "Neila Glacial Lagoons Natural Park". Official Portal of Tourism. Junta de Castilla y León. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  24. ↑ Pryce, Lois (2025-06-30). "Discovering Spain's Sierra de la Demanda: the land that social media forgot". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  25. ↑ "Canal de Castilla". Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  26. ↑ "Castrojeriz". Official Portal of Tourism. Junta de Castilla y León. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  27. ↑ "El valle de Arlanza | Excma. Diputacion Provincial de Burgos". www.burgos.es. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  28. ↑ "Sabinares del Arlanza Nature Reserve - La Yecla in Spain". Spain.info. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  29. ↑ "Tourism in Lerma. What to see. Tourist information | spain.info". Spain.info. Archived from the original on 2026-07-19. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  30. ↑ "Tourism in Covarrubias. What to see. Tourist information | spain.info". Spain.info. Archived from the original on 2026-02-09. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  31. ↑ García, Francisco de Asís García. "Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey", Encyclopedia of Medieval Pilgrimage,ISBN 9789004181298
  32. ↑ "La Ribera del Duero | Excma. Diputacion Provincial de Burgos". www.burgos.es. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  33. ↑ "Discover the Spanish town with a hidden world of underground wineries". Travel. 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  34. ↑ "Clunia, the Roman city that is redefining cultural… | tourspain.es in english". www.tourspain.es. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  35. ↑ "National justice systems | European e-Justice Portal". e-justice.europa.eu. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
  36. ↑ "INEbase. Alterations to the municipalities in the Population Censuses since 1842". INE.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Province_of_Burgos&oldid=1373926993"