The Prado Redondo Aqueduct, built between 1759 and 1804, is part of the infrastructure of the Southern Branch of the Castile Canal, designed to ensure the continuity of the canal’s route over small watercourses. It is located in the municipality of Villamuriel de Cerrato (Palencia), at kilometer 103, within the section between Lock 33 and Locks 34-35-36. Its function is to allow passage under the Valdiré stream, effectively resolving the crossing between the natural watercourse and the hydraulic structure.
The structure consists of a single semicircular arch, set between stone abutments, with an approximate span of 2 meters and a height of approximately 1.60 meters. The overall dimensions are approximately 4.65 meters long, 6.60 meters wide, and 7.40 meters high. It is constructed entirely of limestone masonry, a material characteristic of the canal due to its strength and durability. The parapets and abutments reinforce the aqueduct’s stability and properly channel the stream’s waters. The aqueduct is in a good state of preservation and retains all of its original hydraulic engineering, thus justifying its comprehensive protection.
For the visitor, the Prado Redondo Aqueduct offers a quiet and revealing stop, ideal for understanding how these discreet works made the continuous operation of the Canal de Castilla possible and enjoying the harmony between historical engineering and the landscape of the Cerrato.
