Spain's human castle competition
The ‘Castellers’ who build the human towers with precise techniques compete in groups, known as ‘colles’, at festivals in Spain with the aim to build the highest and most complex human tower. The Catalan tradition is believed to have originated from human towers built at the end of the 18th century by dance groups and is part of the local culture.
In 2010, castells were declared by UNESCO to be one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Photo: Members of Vella de Xiquets de Valls try to complete their human tower during the 26th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona on Sunday, October 2, 2016. The structure of the castells varies depending on their complexity. The highest castell in history was a 10 floor structure with 3 people in each floor.
Tarragona Competition
Members of the colla Vella de Valls begin to build a human tower during the 26th Tarragona Competition on October 2, 2016 in Spain.
Tarragona Competition
A members of the colla Vella de Valls walks on the shoulders of team members to build a human tower on October 2, 2016 in Tarragona, Spain.
Tarragona Competition
Members of the colla Vella de Valls climb up as they construct a human tower on October 2, 2016 in Spain.
Tarragona Competition
Members of the colla Vella de Valls fall down as they build a human tower during the 26th Tarragona Competition on October 2, 2016 in Tarragona, Spain.
A castell is considered completely successful when it is loaded and unloaded without falling apart.
Tarragona competition
Members of the colla Sagals d’Osona reacts as they watch the competition on October 1, 2016.
Tarragona Competition
A young member Xiquets de Hanghzou in action after building a human tower during the 26th Tarragona Competition on October 1, 2016 in Tarragona, Spain.
The Xiquets de Hanghzou is a chinese colla, competing for the first time in the Tarragona’s human tower competition.
Tarragona Competition
Team members of the colla Xiquets de Hanghzou celebrate after completing their human tower on October 1, 2016 in Tarragona.
Tarragona competition
Members of the colla Xiquets de Hangzou celebrate after completing their human tower on October 1, 2016.
Tarragona competition
The colla Castellers de Sant Cugat builds a human tower on October 1, 2016 in Tarragona.
Tarragona Competition
A young member wears a helmet whil climbing to the top of the tower constructed by tje colla Castellers de Sant Cugat on October 1, 2016.
Tarragona Competition
Members of the colla Jove de Barcelona hold hands as they form a a human tower on October 1, 2016.
Tarragona Competition
A members of the colla Xiquets de Reus steps on the shoulders of the colla to build the next level of a tower during the 26th Tarragona competition on October 2, 2016.
Tarragona Competition
Spectators watch the Castellers de Vilafranca build their human tower on October 2, 2016.
Tarragona Competition
Members of Vella de Valls helps a teammate after falling down on October 2, 2016.
Tarragona competition
Members of Vella de Xiquets de Valls form their human tower, October 2, 2016.
Tarragona Competition
Members of the Marrecs de Salt celebrate after building their tower successfully on October 1, 2016.
Tarragona Competition
Members of the colla Castellers de Vilafranca fall down during the 26th Tarragona competition on October 2, 2016.
Tarragona competition
Members of the Castellers de Villafranca attempt to complete their human tower in Tarragona on October 2, 2016.
Tarragona competition
A member of Castellers de Villafranca reacts after completing their human tower on October 2, 2016.
Tarragona Competition
Members of the colla ‘Vella de Valls’ fall down on October 2, 2016.
Tarragona Competition
First responders carry a member of the Castellers de Sant Cugat on a stretcher on October 1, 2016.
Tarragona competition
A full arena of competitiors and spectators watch as Vella de Xiquets de Valls try to complete their human tower, October 2, 2016.