3. Some considerations
A cultural activity, not
sport.
It was a local tradition and
now is a catalana tradition.
This has been possible due
to:
Its meaning.
Television.
4. Some history
XVIIIth century: first evidence of
Human Tower.
Origins: Ball de Valencians
(valencian dance).
It’s a tradition from Southern
Catalonia (Penedés, Tarragona).
Valls “capital city” of Castells.
Top moments:
End of XIXth centur.
1920’s
1980’s
1990’s: expanded around
Catalonia.
2010: Castells were declared
UNESCO Intangible Cultural
Heritage.
5. Castells substituted Sardana
as a national catalan symbol
Sardana: traditional
dance from
northern Catalonia
(Empordà).
People (men and
women together)
form circles during
the dance. Symbol
of a “United
Catalonia”.
6. Values associated with
Human Tower
“Fer pinya” (join together): be
a team, work in a team.
Goal:
Reach the highest point
possible.
Always fighting: continue to
build the human tower even
if it falls down.
The motto of Castells is:
“Força, equilibri, valor i seny”
(strenght, balance, courage
and common sense). Human Towers are used
as team building
technique in businesses.
7.
8. Who are they built by?
They are built by “Colles
(“clubs”) Castelleres”.
Every “colla” wears a
different colored shirt.
There is a “cap de colla”
(coach) that gives
instructions during its
construction.
The higher the “castell” the
more difficult it is to build
it and take it down
(“carregar i descarregar”).
“Cap de colla” directing the
construction of a “castell”
