The Culdeque Aqueduct, built between 1831 and 1836, is part of the infrastructure of the Southern Branch of the Castile Canal, designed to ensure the continuity of the route over small watercourses. It is located in the municipality of Dueñas (Palencia), at kilometer 108.436, and its significance lies in a construction solution adapted to a terraced terrain, where the structure is partially sunken below the natural surroundings.
The structure consists of a single semicircular arch, with an approximate span of 2 meters, allowing water to pass beneath the canal. The overall dimensions are approximately 2 meters in span length, with a total width of nearly 33 meters and a height of approximately 4.60 meters. It is constructed entirely of limestone masonry and features triangular wing walls that project towards the canal, facilitating water flow. It lacks parapets, a characteristic consistent with its placement on an embankment, where the canal’s surface visually dominates the structure.
For the visitor, the Culdeque Aqueduct offers a discreet but revealing stop, ideal for understanding how the Canal de Castilla adapted to the terrain with sober and effective solutions, integrating naturally into the landscape of the Palencia Cerrato.
