Castellers de Vilafranca, Concurs de Castells, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain, Europe

The Castellers de Vilafranca is a cultural and sporting association whose main objective is to build castells (human towers). It has the status of a public-interest association. The group was founded in 1948 in response to the increased interest in human tower building in Vilafranca del Penedès, a Catalan tradition that has evolved since the 18th century Ball de Valencians, a dance from Valencia. Nowadays, the Castellers de Vilafranca have about 400 active human tower building members of all ages, with no discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, sex or social status. They share the common goal of building human towers, democratic values, cooperation and teamwork, a constant desire to surpass themselves, and a will to maintain a lead over a select and competitive group of rival human tower associations. The group’s headquarters is Cal Figarot, Casa Via Raventós, a house located in downtown Vilafranca del Penedès and specially adapted for human tower building activity (for example, high, indoor ceilings for winter use and an open-air courtyard for spring, summer and fall). The group is one of the most important organizations in Vilafranca del Penedès and has represented Catalan culture abroad numerous times. The association has more than five hundred official supporters, and has the support of several public and private institutions. In addition to hosting and participating in human tower exhibitions, it also organizes other cultural activities, such as small-scale concerts, a poetry contest, a massive bicycle event, a dominoes tournament, food events and a human tower school for kids. The Castellers de Vilafranca’s efforts to preserve and promote popular Catalan culture have been recognized by the town of Vilafranca del Penedès, which awarded the group with the Medalla de la Vila (the town medal), and by the Generalitat de Catalunya (the Catalan Government) with the Creu de Sant Jordi (Cross of Saint George). The Castellers de Vilafranca cultural association was founded in September 1948 by Oriol Rossell, who became the first cap de colla (Leader/Technical Manager of the group). The group successfully started with seven-level towers, and also forged close relationships with casteller groups in other towns. The first caps de colla were Oriol Rossell (1948-1952) and Ramon Sala (1953-1955). The group originally wore rose-coloured shirts, and subsequently, red ones. In 1956, the group became almost inactive due to internal disagreements and disputes. In 1957, it reorganized and elected to wear green shirts, which is still the distinctive colour used by the group today. From 1957 to 1968, seven-level towers were the norm, and the cinc de set was the highest tower achieved. From 1969 to 1974, the group improved considerably, building the first towers in the eight-level category: the torre de Set, quatre de vuit, tres de vuit, pilar de sis, and the torre de vuit amb folre. In 1972, the group won the Concurs de castells de Tarragona, the Human Towers Competition held biennially in Tarragona city in the south of Catalonia. During those years, the caps de colla were Josep Pedrol (1957-1959), Carles Domènech (1960-1961), Joan Bolet (1962-1963), Gabi Martínez (1964-1969), Lluís Giménez (1970-1973) and Gabi Martínez, again (1974). In 1975, the group went through major internal restructuring, shifting from the very personal and almost-exclusive leadership of the cap de colla to management of the technical side of tower-building by a consensual team. 1981 brought with it more internal changes, and it was decided that team members would no longer be individually paid. This provoked a division in the group. From 1975 to 1982, eight-level towers were performed frequently but with difficulties. In 1983 and 1984, the group regained its strength in this category and, in 1985, it built the first cinc de vuit. This landmark achievement proved merely to be a milestone on the way to even more impressive nine-level towers. In 1987, the first tres and quatre de nou amb folre (carregat) arrived, and in 1989 the first completely successful tres de nou amb folre (descarregat) was achieved. Similar success came in 1990 with the first quatre de nou amb folre (descarregat). There were other successes, too. As for towers that were “only” carregats (reached the top but collapsed afterwards): the torre de vuit (the first one in the 20th century); quatre de nou, and the tres de deu amb folre i manilles (the first one in human towers history). The group also won the Tarragona Human Towers Competition in 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2006. In 2005 Castellers de Vilafranca achieved the torre de nou amb folre, which is considered the most difficult tower ever done by any group to date. Francesc Moreno "Melilla" was the cap de colla between 1995 and 2003, and Lluís Esclassans from 2004 to 2007. David Miret was elected the new cap de colla in December 2007.

[@catarinamacedo3132]

I hope this type of traditions never gets lost. This is beautiful, this is what makes humanity and all its peoples unique and interesting! Gracias a España por tan lindo regalo al mundo. Saludos de Portugal

[@JosepTablet-bk3uv]

Este " lindo regalo " no viene de españa , viene de Catalunya . De españa té vendrian lindos retalls como , toros , castañuelas , sangria tíbia ....

[@spiderwatson9583]

España es uno de los últimos países europeos que ha conservado su independencia y tradiciones culturales. Soy alemán y en Alemania perdimos todo eso después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial :-(. Solo tenemos la cultura estadounidense de Hollywood. ¡Felicitaciones!

[@kilianendres7976]

Ich denke du lebst einfach in einer Stadt. Wir haben genug gelebte Tradition auf dem Land. Vorallem hier in Bayern.

[@spiderwatson9583]

@@kilianendres7976 Es stimmt, Bayern ist eine der wenigen Regionen in Deutschland, in der das Brauchtum noch gepflegt wird. Hoffentlich noch lange!

[@burtonfootballer5408]

As an English person I think this practice, art or skill whatever you want to call it is fantastic and epitomises what is going wrong in the UK. There are too many do gooder Nimby Wokes banning everything that they have never done themselves and never will now owing to over indulgent health and safety laws. At least we still have shrove tuesday mayhem football and cheese rolling but not for much longer. What a fantastic community building tradition and long may it continue. Glad I came from the 1950's and did some of this sort of stuff in the UK.

[@pietropecco]

I want to see the rolling cheese, how's that?

[@Daniel_Meyer]

que buenos recuerdos cuando veías a la gente aplaudiendo y no con un móvil grabando... a día de hoy todos verían la "actuación" tras una pantalla mientras graban en vídeo

[@yobrojoost9497]

Wow!

[@qwertyyuyop9347]

Orgullós de ser català

[@nathangeorge897]

Me gusta

[@tonisimon6398]

Sobra "Spain".

[@jjnmjj]

El que sobra es tu comentario

[@tonisimon6398]

@@jjnmjj Sobra "És dolor".

[@joseparnabat9848]

No sobra, en ejpaÑa ya teneis toros , vuestra fiesta nasioná

[@JosepTablet-bk3uv]

@@jjnmjj las imagenes Castellers de Vilafranca y la construcción : tres de deu amb folre i manilles , descarregat !! En ejpaÑa ya teneis los toros , no nos robeis las tradicions tan nuestras

[@albertvilaburgues5739]

No se trata de dinero.Es una tradición muy noble, gente de todas las condiciones sociales y físicas que aúnan esfuerzos en aras a un fin común.Hay rivalidad (creo que de caràcter ideólogico) entre las 2 "colles" de Valls, pero siempre se mira de ayudar a las otras "colles".

[@Daniel-fp7qn]

Spanish strong 🖤🇪🇦

[@crisrgamezt]

Que premio dinero gana el campeón de dicha competición o es solo un trofeo? Saludos de Colombia

[@chipirobot1842]

Ganan algo de dinero les colles que estan en las primeras posiciones y un trofeo, pero son cantidades humildes

[@JosepTablet-bk3uv]

@@chipirobot1842 todas las "colles" tienen premio dinero , tened en cuenta que algunas "colles" para estos concursos desplazan unas 1000 personas o mas. Però lo que se valora mas por ,as "colles" és la clasificación final segun puntuación.

[@F.D.C.]

Me gustan mucho los castells, pero me precupa la integridad física de los niños pequeños,y creo que tienen que pasar bastante miedo

[@carlaolivellabalcells9799]

Yo soy la enxeneta de este castell, la de arriba, ahora ya tengo 15 años pero cuando subía encima de todo tenia 6, y te puedo assegurar que hacemos castells porque nos gusta, nadie nos obliga a nada, si tienes miedo directamente no haces castells o los haces mas pequeños, saludos

[@chipirobot1842]

Ensayan mucho, el % de caidas es muy bajo

[@evaroloflo9619]

No puedes ser Anxeneta si tienes miedo, además te crees que somos monstruos que obligamos a los críos a hacer esto o qué? "Tastontotó"

[@Macdolero]

Los niños más pequeños llevan casco.

[@Lylysaha]

@@carlaolivellabalcells9799 sempre endevant, sense valentia la vida no es res 💪💯💪

[@gasparevilla4712]

Non ce niente da commentare ce solamente da ammirare a bocca aperta wla spagna