Castells: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
UNESCO emphasised that the human towers are "recognized by Catalan people as an integral part of their cultural identity"
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UNESCO decided, during the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which took place in Nairobi (Kenya), to include 'castells', or human towers, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In assessing the candidacy, UNESCO highlighted that the human towers "are recognized by Catalan people as an integral part of their cultural identity, transmitted from generation from generation and providing community members a sense of continuity, social cohesion and solidarity".
The candidature of "Castells: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" received unanimous support from the Parliament of Catalonia, with a resolution approved on 11 June 2008. A delegation comprising representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Coordinator of Colles Castellers de Catalunya and the magazine Castells, lodged the documentation on the candidature of the human towers at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The Patum de Berga is the only Catalan precedent on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, where it was inscribed in 2005. The list, which includes 166 elements from around the world, promotes the protection of elements such as oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe and know-how related to traditional handicrafts.
Els castells
'Castells' are one of the most genuine and singular cultural manifestations in Europe, with more than 200 years' history behind them. They are human towers that can have anything up to 10 levels and which are performed in a festive environment. There are presently some 7,000 'castellers' who perform in around 60 groups or colles, and raise some 16,000 towers every year.
'Els castells' in Patrimoni.gencat
Mediterranean diet has also been chosen by UNESCO as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
