Lock 6

Lock 6, built between 1759 and 1804, continues the ascent of the North Branch and maintains the characteristic typology of the canal’s simple locks. Its oval basin, 23.30 meters long, 9.60 meters wide, and 3.60 meters high, is constructed of sandstone ashlar, a resistant material that has allowed the essential structure of the hydraulic work to be preserved. On the left bank is a spillway that discharges water through a buried concrete weir, integrated into the basin wall, before it rejoins the canal. Although its state of preservation is not good, valuable elements remain, such as the original supports for the operating winches, which allow us to understand how the gates were operated.

Next to the lock is the Lock 6 Bridge, also built between 1759 and 1804. Its semicircular arch, constructed with voussoirs and supported by sandstone masonry, allowed passage between banks without interfering with the lock’s operations. Although the roadway was widened with concrete slabs and metal profiles, the original arch remains in good condition. The lock keeper’s house and a small auxiliary building complete the complex, serving as reminders of the human presence necessary for the canal’s continuous operation and adding significant environmental value to the site.

During the visit to Lock 6, the architectural remains and the rural landscape allow one to understand the magnitude of the Canal de Castilla as a living heritage, integrated and deeply linked to the territory.