Alar del Rey: Holiday Apartment, Culture and the Canal de Castilla

In Alar del Rey, the Canal de Castilla begins at kilometer zero; at the place known as La Veguilla, it draws its water from the Pisuerga River.

When comparing a holiday apartment in Alar del Rey, you can check travel dates, room category and cancellation policies side by side on the offer pages. This information helps you compare different periods and accommodation options objectively and organize your own plans.

Culture

The parish church of Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Alar del Rey was built in 1898, after the population had grown considerably due to the opening of construction work on the Ferrocarril de Isabel II railway and shipping on the Reales Canales de Castilla.

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen combines a Neo-Romanesque church building with a later Modernist bell tower designed by Jerónimo Arroyo. The square tower rests on three arches with figuratively decorated capitals; these form the entrance to the main doorway.

In August 2025, Plaza de la Barcaza in Alar del Rey was transformed into a large community-created mural. The murals on Plaza de la Barcaza form a walking route featuring images that tell the story of Alar del Rey’s identity.

The canal heritage of Alar del Rey includes the former prisons, known as mazmorras. A dársena of the Canal de Castilla is also located near Alar del Rey.

Routes and Water

The northern branch of the Canal de Castilla runs for 207 kilometers from Alar del Rey to Ribas de Campos and extends from its beginning in Alar del Rey to the triple lock at Calahorra de Ribas; it comprises 24 locks.

The first weir in the surroundings of Alar del Rey is known as Puente de la Coneja. On the right bank of the Canal de Castilla, the towpath leads from Alar del Rey after two kilometers to the first lock in Barrio de San Vicente.

Alar del Rey can be reached by train or by road, including via the N-611, also known as the Santander road, and via the P-610.

The different route lengths provide different points of reference: Two kilometers on the towpath, 17 kilometers for the event and 207 kilometers along the northern branch can be considered separately when making your own plans.

Festivals

The Descenso Internacional del Pisuerga is a sports and popular festival recognized as a Fiesta de Interés Turístico Regional, held in the province of Palencia since 1965.

The route covers 17 kilometers from Olleros de Pisuerga to Alar del Rey. During the Descenso Internacional del Pisuerga, paddlers must pass five weirs: Mave, Becerril, Nogales, La Fábrica de Campos and El Soto.

Other places to discover are Villodrigo, Dehesa De Montejo, Valenoso, Cordovilla La Real, La Vid Y Barrios, Cantoral De La Peña, Salinas De Pisuerga and Triollo.

Nature

A total of 162 different bird species have been recorded for Alar del Rey.

For the overarching travel overview: Palencia.