Feature

Teams wear a uniform usually consisting of loose white trousers, a sash, and a coloured shirt, depending on the town being represented. Castells is a pastime for all ages. The base of the tower is formed by a circle of sturdy adults, and sometimes an outer circle is added for extra support. Then participants, both male and female become lighter and shorter as the castle progresses. Each subsequent level of participants climbs up the back and shoulders of the levels already in place, until finally the smallest casteller makes his death-defying climb to the very top of the castell and waves his hand briefly in the air to make the sign of the cross and to signal the tower’s completion. This last casteller is known as the anxaneta, or weathercock.

Various formations are possible and the tallest tower is not always the aim. Some towers have a sturdy base and rise two castellers at a time, while others may have four or five castellers for every level except the very top. The record is apparently 10 human storeys high, which is very difficult to achieve. Mostly castells will reach seven or eight, and occasionally nine stories high, and they must do it quickly because too long and the strength and balance of the participants gives way. When a castle collapses it is spectacular and amazing that usually no-one is badly hurt.

The Castellers can also be seen in Barcelona during the festival of La Merce, and spectators and participants gather in Placa St Jaume to watch the towers being built in front of the Casa de la Ciutat (the City Hall). The atmosphere in the square while a castell goes up is one you are not likely to find elsewhere, as the crowd goes silent and quietly wills the participants to succeed.