Tarragona Human Tower Competition
Tarragona Human Tower Competition
Tarragona Human Tower Competition
4.5
About
Afraid of heights? Well, you don't have to join in – just watch instead! The Human Tower Competition takes place in Tarragona on even-numbered years in October. You can be one of 6,000 spectators whose knees will go weak at the sight of the Concurs de Castells. Young kids, older folk, people of all shapes and sizes – but all very fit – act as a tightly-knit team to jump atop each other's shoulders and create a human tower. Epic heights are reached, with upwards of nine stories of human strength. The strongest men are at the bottom, the most nimble child perches on top – known as the 'enxaneta', he or she raises four fingers when the pinnacle is reached (representing the Catalan flag). What started as a dance is today an amazing spectacle, which must be seen if you have the opportunity. This is one for the whole family.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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Laraine M
Huddersfield, UK14 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We had set aside the day for seeing everything we had been told Tarragon a had to offer. We queued up to buy our one ticket for all the cultural areas we wanted to see. Upon arrival at the front of the queue we were told we couldn't pay by cash! As we hadn't thought to bring a card with us we would have had to backtrack to the Tourist Information office to buy. It was a red hot day so we wandered around for the day. A beautiful place but spoiled by this no cash policy!
Written June 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ed_and_Ann
Raleigh, NC159 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We timed our visit to Spain so we would be able to see the Concurs de Castells (Human Tower Competition) in Tarragona on the final weekend. As another reviewer mentioned, the tickets to the finals on Oct.2 sold out quickly.....actually in 5 minutes. Therefore, we bought tickets to the Saturday competition but were so lucky that someone sold us tickets to the Sunday event. We were very impressed by the height and breath of the towers built on Saturday and expected Sunday would be just a little better. We were wrong.....the top 12 teams, which participated on Sunday, were amazing. They succeeded in constructing and disassembling 9 and 10 floor towers (approximately 45 - 55 feet at the top). Just to look down would be scary.
The atmosphere, music, cheering, and excitement were terrific.
We asked some folks next to us to explain the scoring and then we started to appreciate how much more difficult some of the towers are to construct. They lose points if they don't disassemble in an orderly manner, too.
This event happens every two years (even numbered) and is worthwhile attending. Even if one cannot attend this event, when planning a visit to Barcelona, Google "Castell schedule" for watching a demonstration in a public plaza, often near a city hall.
These are two links that would help understand Castells:
1. This link will provide good information about Castells:
http://barcelona.de/en/barcelona-castellers-human-towers.html
AND
2..This is Red Bull TV's (in English) presentation of this year's competition:
http://www.redbull.tv/live/AP-1NZ7H2XEN1W11/concurs-de-castells
Good luck in seeing this event in two years, but try to see a Castell demonstration in Barcelona. A good club to look up is the Castellers de Barcelona.
The atmosphere, music, cheering, and excitement were terrific.
We asked some folks next to us to explain the scoring and then we started to appreciate how much more difficult some of the towers are to construct. They lose points if they don't disassemble in an orderly manner, too.
This event happens every two years (even numbered) and is worthwhile attending. Even if one cannot attend this event, when planning a visit to Barcelona, Google "Castell schedule" for watching a demonstration in a public plaza, often near a city hall.
These are two links that would help understand Castells:
1. This link will provide good information about Castells:
http://barcelona.de/en/barcelona-castellers-human-towers.html
AND
2..This is Red Bull TV's (in English) presentation of this year's competition:
http://www.redbull.tv/live/AP-1NZ7H2XEN1W11/concurs-de-castells
Good luck in seeing this event in two years, but try to see a Castell demonstration in Barcelona. A good club to look up is the Castellers de Barcelona.
Written October 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon T
2 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
Great spectacle well worth a visit! Great atmosphere, the locals are great fun and know how to have a great time!
Written September 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Viv N
Leicestershire, UK201 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Went to see the practicing of the human towers and we thought it was amazing.
We stopped in Salou and before we went we found out about Tarragona and the human towers.
We have always wanted to see this and we found on the Saturday they were practicing for the competitions, so we went on this day.
Absolutely brilliant they are very brave and mad.
So please that we could see this such a shame we couldn't see the finals.
We stopped in Salou and before we went we found out about Tarragona and the human towers.
We have always wanted to see this and we found on the Saturday they were practicing for the competitions, so we went on this day.
Absolutely brilliant they are very brave and mad.
So please that we could see this such a shame we couldn't see the finals.
Written October 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anniepanny48
Preston, UK1 contribution
Aug 2018 • Couples
Sant Magi. A week of exciting events with the dragons fight and fireworks, the parade of the giants, and the superb human towers comprising men, women and children. Your heart is in your mouth as they go higher and higher
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
troppodon
Bathurst, Australia185 contributions
Jun 2018
Purely by chance I asked the tourist office in Tarragona what was on as part of the fiesta and was told about the human tower climbing down on the waterfront. Many people in different coloured shirts and all in white trousers assembled and formed gigantic pyrimids with very young children complete with mouth guards and helmets climbing up five to six levels . A drumming band provided encouragement . Totally amazing.
Written July 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra L
Warwick, Australia447 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We booked tickets late so only managed the Saturday. However we were told later that tickets for the Sunday final sold out in under an hour. 5€/ticket & has to rate as the best VFM of all time.
Bit chaotic getting in to venue & locals having it no better!!!!! Still once in there were plenty of seats although had to move when roof opened as in direct sunlight.
WHAT A SPECTACLE!!!!!! The teams, the noise, the exuberance, the atmosphere, the crowd, just awesome & one is swept up and along. And the pyramid building, the building and the dismount and the occasional collapse!!!!! Sensational. Took 100s of photos & didn't even stay to the end.
One attraction worth revisiting.
Not to be missed even if you don't understand the rules & point scoring.
Bit chaotic getting in to venue & locals having it no better!!!!! Still once in there were plenty of seats although had to move when roof opened as in direct sunlight.
WHAT A SPECTACLE!!!!!! The teams, the noise, the exuberance, the atmosphere, the crowd, just awesome & one is swept up and along. And the pyramid building, the building and the dismount and the occasional collapse!!!!! Sensational. Took 100s of photos & didn't even stay to the end.
One attraction worth revisiting.
Not to be missed even if you don't understand the rules & point scoring.
Written October 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerry R C
341 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
Watched the Human Tower events inside the Roman Coliseum in town of Tarragona. Village after village competed to show their family, historical, human, significant achievements using their collective strength, balance and lack of fear of heights. Amazing! It's easy to understand that you need huge people at the bottom first level, but as each new level is built, the individuals need to be smaller, lighter, and more adroit and skilled. Many villages could build a 5 level human tower but 6 levels was the absolute winner. See photos to believe the impossible.
Written September 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beatriz V
Tarragona, Spain6 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Tremendous experience...every 2 years in the bullring of Tarragona..now the TAP.It is the year 5 and 6 October 2024(first weekend of October).42 collas castelleras..4000 people of Público.....a whole show..transmitted on local television TAC12..cannot miss it.!!️‼️ BEA.. Castellers de SPiSP
Automatically translated
Written September 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We didn't get to see the finals we just went to a practice night which was amazing.
If you look at the website Tarragona turisime (Human towers) it will give you the dates for 2019.
Regards
Written January 23, 2019
My goal is to witness the 2018 Human Towers competition in Tarragona.
Can you advise me on how to secure tickets to the main competitions that final weekend of the festival?
So far, I have been unable to determine how to proceed.
Thank you.
Written January 12, 2018
Hi,
I would like to visit this event on Oct 1&2. I am visiting from Australia and I have no Spanish. How do i purchase tickets?
Written May 25, 2016
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