Lock 42

Esclusa

Lock 42

Valladolid
Province

Valladolid

Branch

South

Visit duration

30-60 minutes

Services available
Provincia

Valladolid

Ramal

South

Duración visita

30-60 minutes

Servicios disponibles
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The heritage complex of Lock 42, built between 1831 and 1836, is located within the municipality of Valladolid, at kilometer 138.020 of the Southern Branch of the Castile Canal, easily accessible from the N-620 highway and the La Overuela road. This site played a vital role in the overall canal system: overcoming the difference in elevation, regulating the flow, and organizing the diversion of water to production facilities, while simultaneously ensuring the continuity of the roads.

The main feature is Lock 42, a simple, rectangular lock approximately 32.30 meters long, 5 meters wide, and 3.60 meters high. It is constructed of limestone masonry and retains its original wooden and iron gates, as well as the original supports for the operating winches. On the left bank, a fixed-lip spillway discharges into the lock through an underground conduit, while on the right bank, an underground intake feeds the millrace that serves the adjacent building and runs in the open air parallel to the canal until it rejoins it downstream from the bridge.

Several complementary elements associated with the lock complete its functional understanding. The bridge over the lock stands out, with its segmental arch and limestone masonry, featuring well-defined parapets and wing walls, allowing passage for the road to La Overuela. Also present are the diversion bridges, aligned with the main bridge, constructed with semicircular arches of brick and stone masonry, designed to maintain the continuity of the road over the millrace. Completing the ensemble is a historic mill, later converted into a hydroelectric power station, now restored and in good condition. Built of stone, brick, and a wooden structure, it exemplifies the harnessing of energy from the waterfall, alongside the remains of ruined buildings that retain their original layout.

A visit to Lock 42 offers a glimpse into the Canal de Castilla as a complex and dynamic structure, where engineering, industry, and the land intertwine. Integrated into a peri-urban landscape and easily accessible, this site provides a comprehensive experience, revealing how water has driven the transformation of the region and continues to define the canal’s identity.
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How to get there:

It can be accessed from kilometer 118.300 of the N-620, 60 meters away, or from the La Overuela road. Both roads are linked by a short path that passes over the lock bridge.