The Castil Spillway is a hydraulic infrastructure of the Campos Branch of the Castile Canal located in the municipality of Castil de Vela (Palencia), at kilometer 139.500. It is part of the system of complementary works associated with Lock 4 of Campos and its main function is to allow the controlled evacuation of excess water, helping to maintain the stable level of the canal and protect the safety of the infrastructure in episodes of flooding or intense flow regulation.
It is a discreet element, integrated into the terrain, designed to work silently yet effectively within the canal’s complex hydraulic system. Although it is not particularly monumental, its role is essential, as it acts as a relief point that prevents overloading and potential damage to the lock and the canal basin. These types of spillways are part of the detailed engineering of the Canal de Castilla, where each component fulfills a precise function within the whole.
For visitors, the Castil Overflow offers an opportunity to understand how the Castile Canal was not only a waterway for navigation and irrigation, but also a complex water management network. Integrated into the open landscape of Tierra de Campos, it invites visitors to calmly observe these secondary but essential elements that support the daily operation of one of the great hydraulic engineering works of the 19th century.
