Castell

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This is about the human towers called Castells. For the German County of the same name, see Castell (Germany). For the 1960s American vocal group, see The Castells. For the medical sign, see Castell's sign

Castells are human towers that are traditionally built during festivals in many places in Catalonia. At these festivals, several colles castelleres (teams) meet and try to build the most impressive towers they can.

This tradition originated in the southern part of the Spanish region of Catalonia at the end of the XVIII century. More specifically in Valls, near the city of Tarragona. The tradition later spread to other regions of Catalonia and even Mallorca, and has become very popular. However, the best and most skilled castellers are still found near Tarragona.

A castell is considered a success when it's properly loaded and unloaded, that is, when everyone has climbed and is in place, the enxaneta (the last one) climbs up to the top, rises one hand, and then climbs down through the other side of the castell, and then everyone else comes down safely.

Besides the people that actually climbs, there's also many people needed in the pinya (the base of the castell), they help sustaining the weight and act as a sort of safety net.

Contents

1 Terminology
2 External links

2.1 ''Colles castelleres'' (teams)

3 See also

Terminology

In Catalan the word castell means castle, although a castell with two persons per level is a torre (tower) and is usually called a pilar if it consists of just one person per level.

Castells are mainly described by the number of people standing at the base and the number of levels. The ground level (pinya) is the first level, and the top three levels are normally different from the rest (see pom de dalt below). In the image opposite, for instance, a 4 de 9 is depicted.

The elements a castell may consist of are as follows:

pinya (bulk): The densely arranged crowd of people at the base of the tower. Here is where most of the people are. Its function is to sustain the second level, lighten the weight on the basement people and to soften the impact if anyone falls.
enxaneta (rider) : The topmost child.
aixecador (riser): The person sustaining the enxaneta.
dosos (seconds): The level sustaining the aixecador.
pom de dalt (bunch from the top): The top three levels of the castell: dosos, aixecador, and enxaneta.
folre (cover): A crowd standing on the pinya and sustaining the third level.
manilles (cover): A crowd standing on the folre and sustaining the fourth level.
agulla (needle) : A single-person-per-floor tower (pilar) inside the castell, which when the castell is being undone has to remain standing until the outside part of the castell is already down.

Castells up to 10 levels have been built.

Castell

Terminology

External links

Colles castelleres (teams)

See also