The human towers of Catalonia
Culture, Curiosities

The human towers of Catalonia

Robert Harding

This September Barcelona’s huge street festival, Festes de la Merce, featured giant human towers in the city’s main plaza. But this gravity defying spectacle is not limited to the festival. This Catalan tradition can be seen throughout the year in competitions and public events and dates back to the 18th century.

Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls ‘Castellers’ building human tower (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls 'Castellers' building human tower, a Catalan tradition Biannual contest bullring Tarragona, Spain

The base of the tower is the ‘Pinya’, a ring of people, onto which the weight of the load above is distributed (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls 'Castellers' building human tower, a Catalan tradition Valls Tarragona province, Spain

The tower begins (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls Castellers building human tower, a Catalan tradition Plaça del Blat Valls Tarragona province, Catalonia, Spain

Onlookers watch the building of the human tower or castle (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls ´Castellers´ building human tower, a Catalan tradition Fira de Santa Teresa, town festival Placa Vella El Vendrell Tarragona province, Spain

There are three definite parts to a castle; the pinya (base) the tronc (trunk) and the pom de dalt (the crown) (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

Minyons de Terrassa 'Castellers' building human tower, a Catalan tradition Vilafranca del Penedes Barcelona province, Spain

Building the tower requires a great preparation and teamwork (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

Xiquets de Tarragona 'Castellers' building human tower, a Catalan tradition Placa de la Vila de Gracia Barri de Gracia Barcelona, Spain

The tronc consists of 1 to 9 people on each level depending on the castle (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

Castellers de Vilafranca ´Castellers´ building human tower, a Catalan tradition Santa Anna square Mataro Barcelona province, Spain

`Enxaneta’, the last child who, on reaching the of the human tower salutes the crowd (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

`Enxaneta´girl who rises to the top of the human tower Castellers de Vilafranca ´Castellers´ is a Catalan tradition Vilafranca del Penedes Barcelona province, Spain

Only children are allowed to form the top of the tower, because of their low weight. (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

Minyons de Terrassa Human tower falling, Castellers is a Catalan tradition Festa de la Merce, city festival Placa de Sant Jaume Barcelona, Spain

Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls ‘Castellers’ carefully climb up (Lucas Vallecillos/Robert Harding)

Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls 'Castellers' building human tower, a Catalan tradition Placa de la Vila Vilanova i la Geltru, Barcelona province, Catalunya, Spain

Each tower is erected following very precise techniques and every castle is a law unto itself (Juergen Richter/Robert Harding)

Castellers, human tower, Festa de la Merce, city festival, September, Placa de Sant Jaume, Barri Gotic, Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, Spain

See more photos of human towers here

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