The Canal de Castilla is one of the most important civil engineering projects of Enlightenment Spain. The main objective of its construction was to serve as a waterway for communication and transport to solve the problem of isolation to which the Castilian and Leonese plateau was subjected, due to a complicated orography and a deficient and poorly preserved road network, which made it difficult and almost impossible to transport the region's agricultural surpluses, mostly cereals.

Although there were precedents in previous centuries, it was in the 18th century, under Ferdinand VI and the Marquis of Ensenada, that a great plan to boost the Spanish economy through public works was conceived. The main objective was to create a network of roads and canals for Castile, with the "Proyecto General de los Canales de Navegación y Riego" presented by Antonio de Ulloa, inspired by French works. The original plan included four canals, of which only three were built partially or in their entirety, while the Segovia Canal was never built. The works, which began in 1753, were prolonged for nearly a century due to numerous difficulties. Navigation began in the 18th century, but the period of greatest splendour came between 1850 and 1860, with more than 350 private barges plying the Canal. The opening of the Valladolid-Alar del Rey railway marked the decline of the canal as a transport route, although it maintained its economic importance through other industrial uses. Thus, factories and mills flourished around its course, contributing to the development of the region. Today, the Canal de Castilla is an outstanding Asset of Cultural Interest and a tourist destination, crossing Palencia, Burgos and Valladolid. It offers visitors a journey through nature and history, showing locks, old industrial buildings and bridges that evoke the grandeur of this work of the Enlightenment.

It has 207 kilometres divided into three branches: North (75 km, 24 locks), Campos (78 km, 7 locks) and South (54 km, 18 locks).

With a trapezoidal profile, its parallel towpaths, once used by mules to pull the barges, now allow you to cycle, horseback ride or walk along it, enjoying the landscapes, fauna, flora and architecture, as well as a spectacular artistic and cultural heritage and good gastronomy in 38 municipalities. In addition, the Canal de Castilla is navigable in some sections.

The constructive elements of the Canal de Castilla, such as locks, dams, retentions, aqueducts, bridges, etc., give us an idea of what the Canal de Castilla was like at the time of its maximum splendour:

  • The locksThe canal's water level: closed basins with sluice gates to bridge the unevenness of the terrain and make the canal navigable, which are filled by opening the lower gates until the level of the basin is equal to the level of the canal bed. In the first stage of construction they were oval in shape, and later they were made rectangular. There are 49 in total.
  • The factoriesfromflourAdmire the buildings that used to use the power of water to grind grain and produce flour.
  • The bridges,aqueducts and docksThe canal is a real inland harbour: behold these impressive constructions that allow the canal to cross rivers and roads. There are up to 70 bridges along the entire route, two types of aqueducts and four stone ashlar basins that are true inland ports.

Sailing on one of the tourist boats that ply the Canal de Castilla allows us to travel back to the 18th century, enjoying the surroundings from a unique perspective.

  • Marqués de la Ensenada: Mooring point at the San Andrés Dam, in Herrera de Pisuerga (Palencia), on the North Branch.
  • Antonio de UlloaThis boat is located in the Ramal de Campos, in Medina de Rioseco (Valladolid).
  • San Carlos de AbánadesLocated in the municipality of Melgar de Fernamental, in the province of Burgos.
  • Juan de HomarLocated next to the quadruple lock of Frómista (Palencia), it is the only navigable section of the French Way of St. James, as it runs parallel to this pilgrimage route.

The Canal de Castilla is much more than a tourist destination; it is an experience that will transport you to another era, connect you with nature and allow you to discover Spain's rich culture and history.