The Charca de la Membrilla is located within the municipality of Capillas, in the province of Palencia, near the Campos branch of the Canal de Castilla. Its location, close to the Capillas Bridge and lock number two of the branch, fully integrates it into one of the most representative sections of the canal from a historical, scenic, and environmental point of view.
This wetland originated as an indirect consequence of the construction and operation of the Castile Canal between the 18th and 19th centuries. The excavation of the canal bed and its barrier effect altered the natural drainage of the land, favoring the accumulation of water in certain areas and leading to the formation of pools that, over time, became naturalized.
The Charca de la Membrilla features a seasonal body of water, closely linked to the canal’s water regime. Its banks support marsh vegetation, introducing significant environmental diversity to the open cereal-growing landscape of Tierra de Campos, serving as a refuge and feeding area for various species associated with wetlands.
For the visitor, the Charca de la Membrilla is a significant stop on the walking or cycling routes along the towpaths of the Canal de Castilla, offering a complementary reading of the canal as an ecological corridor and as a generator of unique landscapes in the heart of Tierra de Campos.
