Lock 13

Lock 13, built between 1759 and 1804, is a single lock that continues the ascent of the North Branch in a section where the canal approaches Naveros de Pisuerga. Its oval basin, 26.30 meters long, 9.60 meters wide, and 2.90 meters high, is constructed of limestone masonry, a resistant material that has allowed the essential structure of the hydraulic work to be preserved. On the right bank, there is a spillway that connects via an underground conduit to the diversion channel on the same bank, discharging against the wall of the basin before rejoining the canal. A well-preserved intake branch off from the left wing of the upper entrance, which fed a diversion channel to the adjacent building, returning to the main channel approximately 70 meters downstream.

The complex is structured around several secondary elements. The bridge over the lock, also from the Enlightenment period, features a semicircular arch in limestone ashlar, with wing walls and parapets partially completed with cyclopean concrete. It is in good condition, and its function was to ensure passage between banks without interfering with maneuvers. Two auxiliary bridges, also of limestone ashlar, are preserved at the diversion channel. These bridges allowed for the continuity of the towpath; their condition is fair, but they maintain the authenticity of the original construction. Next to them is the lock keeper’s house, a single-story building with plastered brick walls and limestone surrounds, a wooden frame, and a ceramic tile roof. Although now in ruins, it retains original facades and structural elements, giving it considerable environmental value. Nearby stands the evocative mill, a rectangular building with a basement and an additional story, semicircular arches at the diversion channel outlet, and plastered brick walls. Its state is one of ruin, but it retains enough elements to understand its historical function.

A visit to Lock 13 offers a timeless experience, with the historic mill narrating the canal’s industrial history. It’s the perfect place to understand the Canal de Castilla as a living heritage, integrated into the landscape and steeped in history.