If you have ever been to Catalonia, you probably know that Catalan people are very proud of their cultural heritage and that’s not without reason. Along with other unique cultural traditions, festivals and celebrations, castell (human tower) is a spectacle definitely worth watching. It will leave you speechless, I can guarantee it.
Castell is a street performance during which members of the team form a tower by climbing onto each other’s shoulders. There are many variations of these human towers and the highest can reach up to as many as 10 levels (about 14 metres off the ground)!!!
It’s truly breathtaking! Just imagine trying to stand still on your friend’s shoulders, who is also standing on somebody’s shoulders, while at the same time trying to hold the person standing on top of you! Not only does it need great acrobatic skills, but it also requires the highest levels of concentration and team responsibility.
It’s a very gripping spectacle during which you will keep your fingers crossed and pray the wobbly tower of people doesn’t fall right before your eyes.
Facts and background:
- The tradition of building human towers started in the town of Valls, near Tarragona, at the end of 18th century.
- The castell is considered successful when all the members manage to climb onto their designated positions and the enxaneta (the topmost person, usually a child) raises their hand with four fingers erect, which is a gesture symbolising the stripes of the Catalan flag.
- Apart from the regular climbers, who form the upper parts of the tower, there are others who create a so-called pinya – the bottom base of the castell. Its function is to sustain the tower’s weight as well as play the role of a cushion in case the tower collapses.
- Traditionally all castellers wear white trousers, a black sash, a bandana and a coloured shirt representing the team they belong to.
- The sash (faixa) is the most important part of their attire, as not only is it used by the castellers as a hand- or a foothold while climbing up the tower, but it also supports the lower part of their backs and prevents injuries.
- The motto of castellers is “Força, equilibri, valor i seny” (Strength, balance, courage and common sense).
- In 2010 castells were declared a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Where to see them?
Castellers, giants (another traditional Catalan show) and falconers will perform in Barcelona, from now on throughout the summer, every Saturday.
Castell – Castellers de la Sagrada Familia – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (9)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-9.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-9.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-9.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Castellers de la Sagrada Familia - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (9)" />Castell – Castellers de la Sagrada Familia – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (19)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-19.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-19.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-19.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Castellers de la Sagrada Familia - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (19)" />Castell – Castellers de la Sagrada Familia – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (22)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-22.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-22.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-22.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Castellers de la Sagrada Familia - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (22)" />Castell – Castellers de la Sagrada Familia – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (29)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-29.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-29.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-29.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Castellers de la Sagrada Familia - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (29)" />Castell – Castellers de la Sagrada Familia – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (33)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-33.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-33.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-33.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Castellers de la Sagrada Familia - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (33)" />Castell – Castellers de la Sagrada Familia – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (36)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-36.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-36.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-36.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Castellers de la Sagrada Familia - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (36)" />Castell – Grupo Joven Chicos de Villafranca – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (9)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-grupo-joven-chicos-de-villafranca-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-9.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-grupo-joven-chicos-de-villafranca-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-9.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-grupo-joven-chicos-de-villafranca-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-9.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Grupo Joven Chicos de Villafranca - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (9)" />Castell – Grupo Joven Chicos de Villafranca – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (15)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-grupo-joven-chicos-de-villafranca-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-15.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-grupo-joven-chicos-de-villafranca-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-15.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-grupo-joven-chicos-de-villafranca-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-15.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Grupo Joven Chicos de Villafranca - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (15)" />Castell – Grupo Joven Chicos de Villafranca – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (21)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-grupo-joven-chicos-de-villafranca-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-21.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-grupo-joven-chicos-de-villafranca-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-21.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-grupo-joven-chicos-de-villafranca-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-21.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Grupo Joven Chicos de Villafranca - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (21)" />Castell – Castellers de la Sagrada Familia – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (23)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-23.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-23.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-23.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Castellers de la Sagrada Familia - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (23)" />Castell – Castellers de la Sagrada Familia – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (25)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-25.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-25.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-25.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Castellers de la Sagrada Familia - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (25)" />Castell – Castellers de la Sagrada Familia – Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (27)
" data-medium-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-27.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-27.jpg?w=640" width="100" height="150" src="http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/castell-castellers-de-la-sagrada-familia-portal-del-c3a1ngel-barcelona-spain-27.jpg?w=100&h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Castell - Castellers de la Sagrada Familia - Portal del Ángel, barcelona, Spain (27)" />Check out the details:
18/05 – Av. catedral
Castellers de Sants
Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia
Gigantes Coordinadora de Gigantes de Barcelona
25/05 – Pla de la Seu
Falcons de Barcelona
Halcones de Capellades
Gigantes de Santiago
08/06 – Av. catedral
Castellers de la Sagrada Familia
Castellers de Rubí
Falcons de Barcelona
15/06 – Av. catedral
Castellers de Barcelona
Castellers de Berga
bandada Renaixença
Bastoneros de Poble Sec
16/06 – Pla de la Seu
Haciendo país. 60 aniversario de Ballets de Cataluña
29/06 – Av. catedral
Castellers del Poble Sec
Grupo Joven Hospitalet
Esbart Santa Eulalia
Bastoneros del Raval
06/07 – Av. catedral
Castellers de Barcelona
Castellers de Lleida
Gigantes del Raval
13/07 – Av. catedral
Grupo Joven de Barcelona
Castellers de Sant Feliu
Bandada Catalán de Danzantes
Cuerpo de Bastoners
20/07 – Pla de la Seu
Ballets de Cataluña
27/07 – Av. catedral
Castellers de Barcelona
Castellers de Cornellà
Gigantes de San Pedro
10/08 – Av. catedral
Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia
Castellers de Castelldefels
Gigantes pequeños del Pi
17/08 – Plaza Nueva
Falcons de Barcelona
Baile de bastones de Sitges
Moixiganga de Valls
Gigantes de la pl. nueva
31/08 – Av. catedral
Grupo joven de Barcelona
Castellers de Viladecans
Colla Sardanista Mare Nostrum
written by: Ania
__________________________________________________________
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
![]() |
![]() |
| 16 Things you should be aware of when backpacking and hitch-hiking in Spain | Famous Gaudí house Casa Batlló open to visitors for free |
Filed under: *Photos*, Spain Tagged: acrobatics, Barcelona, Catalonia, culture, performance, photography, tradition, travel, travelling
![]()


















































![Granada on foot [Free walking tour] Granada on foot [Free walking tour]](http://hitchhikershandbook.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/granada-spain-160-view-across-catedral-de-granada-and-on-to-surrounding-countryside-taken-from-mirador-de-san-nicolc3a1s-in-barrio-el-albayzc3adn.jpg?w=257&h=480&h=186)





























.jpg)


