Miraflores Charterhouse

The Miraflores Charterhouse is a Carthusian monastery in Burgos situated on a hilltop roughly three kilometers from the city center. The building features a single nave with stellar vault and a polygonal apse that exemplify International Gothic architecture.

In 1442 King John II of Castile donated a hunting lodge to the Carthusian Order for their use. A fire in 1452 destroyed much of the structure, leading to its reconstruction and transformation into a major monastery.

The monastery holds the tombs of King John II of Castile and Isabella of Portugal, sculpted in alabaster by Gil de Siloé in ornate Gothic style. These royal burial monuments remain central to how visitors experience and understand this sacred place.

The monastery is located within Fuentes Blancas park and can be visited daily, though hours vary on Sundays and holidays. Wear comfortable shoes as the grounds are on a slope with several areas requiring stairs to navigate.

The main altarpiece was completed in 1499 and incorporates gold from early shipments arriving from the newly discovered Americas. This material was carefully worked into the altar furnishings and stands as a rare connection to that transformative moment in history.

Location: Burgos

Inception: 1441

Founders: John II of Castile

Architects: Juan de Colonia

Architectural style: International Gothic

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Part of: Way of Saint James in the province of Burgos

Website: http://cartuja.org

GPS coordinates: 42.33806,-3.65667

Latest update: December 17, 2025 09:38