{"id":8648,"date":"2023-06-27T08:22:49","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T07:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nanoo.travel\/?p=8479"},"modified":"2025-11-02T16:17:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T15:17:45","slug":"barcelona-discovering-the-vibrant-world-of-castellers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nanoo.travel\/en\/barcelona-discovering-the-vibrant-world-of-castellers\/","title":{"rendered":"Castellers de Barcelone | A spectacular Catalan tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While in Barcelona, I had the opportunity to attend the 54th anniversary of the Castellers<\/em> de Barcelone. A castell<\/em><\/strong> (“castle” in Catalan) is an impressive six- to ten-storey human tower<\/strong> built by castellers<\/em>– men, women and children aged five and over, of all sizes and strengths.<\/p>\n\n

How are such towers built? The video answer can be found further down in the article<\/a> \ud83d\ude09 But before we get down to the nitty-gritty, a few words of introduction to better understand castell<\/em> symbolism.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\"Building<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n
\n\t<\/div>\n\n
\n\n

History of castells<\/em><\/h2>\n\n

The origins of castells<\/em> can be traced back to certain early 17th-century dances practiced in southern Catalonia and the Valencian region, which ended<\/strong> with a final figure in the shape of a small human tower<\/strong>. This is called ball de valencians<\/strong><\/em> (“Valencian ball”).<\/p>\n\n

During the 18th century, this type of ball took root in the Tarragona region, and the final figure gained in importance: the human tower had to be ever higher<\/strong>, not only to surpass itself, but also to surpass that of other groups. <\/p>\n\n

It was in Valls that the final figure acquired its autonomy to become the castells<\/em> we know today. The castells<\/em> were created by colles<\/em><\/strong>, a group of people from the same community, village or family. When the tradition of castells<\/em> spread throughout Catalonia in the 19th century, every town and village in Catalonia sought to form its own colle<\/em> to take part in regional and national competitions.<\/p>\n\n

Gaining in popularity, glues<\/em> continue to outdo themselves. Construction techniques and castellers<\/em> ‘ training were perfected, enabling the creation of more stable and daring towers. The first nine-storey castell<\/em> dates back to 1851<\/strong>. But following a strong rural exodus, the success of the sardana<\/em> (traditional dance) and the advent of modern sports like soccer, castells<\/em> declined to the point of almost disappearing<\/strong>. In 1893, the last nine-storey castell<\/em> in almost a century was built in El Vendrell.<\/p>\n\n

From 1926 onwards, new colonies<\/em> sprang up outside the castells<\/em>‘ native territories, triggering strong growth in the casteller<\/em> world. Eight-storey castells<\/em> are collected, and colles<\/em> choose colorful shirts to differentiate themselves. <\/p>\n\n

The three years of the Spanish Civil War<\/strong> (1936-1939) marked a further decline in castellera<\/em> activity. But while many Catalan symbols such as the national anthem, the sardana, the flag and the language were banned under Franco’s dictatorship, castells<\/em> were not<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

The transition to democracy was accompanied by a major social movement to reclaim the streets and reclaim Catalan culture<\/strong>. New adhesives <\/em>are appearing outside the traditional casteller<\/em> framework, introducing a new colla<\/em> model<\/strong>. Closer to today’s values, castells<\/em> become an altruistic and inclusive activity.<\/p>\n\n

In 1981, almost a century later, Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls disassembled a nine-storey castell. These castells<\/em> were then adopted by many other colles<\/em> in the country.<\/p>\n\n

With the presence of castells<\/em> at the Barcelona Olympic Games ceremony in 1992, the castellera<\/em> business really took off, leading to the creation of many new glues<\/em>. By the end of the 90s, there were around sixty of them, twice as many as ten years earlier. <\/p>\n\n

In 1993, the Minyons de Terrassa completed the first gama extra<\/em> castell<\/em> (more difficult than nine-storey castells<\/em> ), and in 1998 the first ten-storey castells<\/em> were built. <\/p>\n\n

In November 2010, Spain declared castells<\/em> a UNESCO World Heritage<\/strong> Site. Today, castells<\/em> are still considered a symbol of Catalan unity, cooperation and culture. They are celebrated at festivals and special events throughout the year by some 13,000 castellers<\/em> in around 100 colles<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Castell<\/em>, instructions for use<\/h2>\n\n

Building a castell<\/em><\/h3>\n\n

Far from being the fruit of chance, a castell<\/em> is built in 3 parts<\/strong>, following precise architectural rules<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n