Carrecalzada Bridge

The Carrecalzada Bridge, built between 1759 and 1804, is one of the most representative crossings on the Northern Branch of the Castile Canal. Its purpose was to allow safe passage between banks without interrupting navigation or traffic on the towpaths, essential for hauling barges. The structure features an elliptical arch 14.10 meters long and 5.20 meters high, supported by a solid limestone ashlar foundation. The entire structure measures 33.70 meters long, 4.20 meters wide, and 6.20 meters high, and retains stone parapets with a distinctive projection at the base, as well as side walkways that provided continuity to the towpaths. Its state of preservation is good, and the roadway—now paved—maintains its original layout.

Approximately 340 meters upstream lies theassociated warehouse, a testament to the logistical activity linked to the canal. Although only remnants of its structure remain today, its presence helps to illustrate the importance of this location as a support area for the transit and storage of goods. The new bridge completes the ensemble, a contemporary structure that coexists with the historic bridge without altering its heritage significance. On the canal bank, the remains of a small retaining wall with rings, used as a mooring point for barges, are also preserved, reinforcing the functional nature of the site.

A visit to the Carrecalzada Bridge offers a glimpse into a section of the canal where 18th-century engineering blends seamlessly into a vast and luminous agricultural landscape. It’s an ideal spot to discover how these understated yet essential structures sustained life and activity along the Canal de Castilla.