Rec Comtal, Medieval irrigation canal in Sant Andreu, Spain
Rec Comtal is a medieval irrigation canal that flows for 12 kilometers across Barcelona, carrying water from higher areas and distributing it through the city. The waterway features stone walls and multiple bridges crossing its path, showing how it was engineered to serve the city's needs.
The canal was built in the 10th century under Count Miró I, replacing an earlier Roman aqueduct to supply water to Barcelona. Over time, it became a central part of the city's water management and supported agriculture across multiple neighborhoods.
The waterway remains integral to Sant Andreu's daily life, where residents use its flow to irrigate vegetable gardens and maintain agricultural spaces throughout the neighborhood. This living connection between residents and their water source shapes the character of the area.
The canal runs through various neighborhoods and sections are accessible from street level, particularly in Sant Andreu and Nou Barris. Be mindful of the water's edge as the active waterway keeps surrounding areas damp, which can affect visibility and footing near the bank.
Excavations in 2004 revealed sections of the original Roman aqueduct and medieval mill structures buried beneath the current waterway. These findings demonstrate how different water systems were layered over more than a thousand years of construction and development.
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