diff --git a/doc/api/axes_api.rst b/doc/api/axes_api.rst
index 6b8503a24b1f..4bbcbe081194 100644
--- a/doc/api/axes_api.rst
+++ b/doc/api/axes_api.rst
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ Attributes
 
    Axes.viewLim
    Axes.dataLim
+   Axes.spines
 
 Plotting
 ========
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index 5a74845df147..15f8e97b449f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -558,6 +558,12 @@ class _AxesBase(martist.Artist):
     dataLim: mtransforms.Bbox
     """The bounding `.Bbox` enclosing all data displayed in the Axes."""
 
+    spines: mspines.Spines
+    """
+    The `.Spines` container for the Axes' spines, i.e. the lines denoting the
+    data area boundaries.
+    """
+
     xaxis: maxis.XAxis
     """
     The `.XAxis` instance.