The Castellers

A Catalan tradition

Human Towers

Barcelona, Spain. 21 September, 2014:
The ‘Minyons de Terrassa’ build a human tower during the city festival ‘La Merce 2014’ in front of the town hall of Barcelona. Thousands of spectators filled Barcelona’s St Jaume place in front of the town hall to follow the first day of castellers (Human towers) from Vilafranca, Terrassa and Barcelona, as part of the traditional program of the city festival, La Merce 2014.

Human towers for democracy

June 8th, 2014. Barcelona, Spain: The castellers of the ‘Sagrada Familia’ gather to build a “human tower for democracy” in front of the ‘Sagrada Familia’

Human towers for democracy

June 8th, 2014. Barcelona, Spain: The Castellers de la vila de Gracia build a human tower, ‘5 de 8’ in the second round of the Castellers day in front of the ‘Sagrada Familia’

Human towers for democracy

June 8th, 2014. Barcelona, Spain: The Castellers de la vila de Gracia build a human tower, ‘5 de 8’ in the second round of the Castellers day in front of the ‘Sagrada Familia’

Human towers for democracy

Barcelona, Spain. 24 September, 2014:
The ‘Castellers de Sants’ build a human tower during the city festival ‘La Merce 2014’ in front of the town hall of Barcelona

St. Eulalia Festival 2015

Barcelona, Spain. 6 February, 2015:
The castellers of the ‘Colla Jove de Barcelona’ build an illuminated human tower as the festival of light and the St Eulalia festivities start in front of Barcelona’s town hall.

Days of Invited ‘Castellers’ at the Merce 2015

Barcelona, Spain. 20 September, 2015:
The ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ deconstract one of their human towers during the city festival ‘La Merce 2015’ in front of the town hall of Barcelona.

Days of invited ‘Castellers’ at the Merce 2015

Barcelona, Spain. 20 September, 2015:
The ‘Minyons de Terrassa’ celebrate a human tower during the city festival ‘La Merce 2015’ in front of the town hall of Barcelona.

Day Of Local Castellers – La Merce 2016

Barcelona, Spain. 24 September, 2016:
The ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ build the base of a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Local Castellers – La Merce 2016

Barcelona, Spain. 24 September, 2016:
The ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ build the base of a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Local Castellers – La Merce 2016

Barcelona, Spain. 24 September, 2016:
The ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ build the base of a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2016

Barcelona, Spain. 25 September, 2016:
The statue of ‘Jaume I’ at the facade of Barcelona’s city hall wears a headband from the ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ during the ‘Merce 2016

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2016

Barcelona, Spain. 25 September, 2016:
The ‘Minyons de Terrassa’ build a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2016

The ‘Minyons de Terrassa’ celebrate a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2016

Barcelona, Spain. 25 September, 2016:
The ‘Minyons de Terrassa’ celebrate a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2016

Barcelona, Spain. 25 September, 2016:
The ‘Colla Jove Xiquets de Valls’ build a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2016

Barcelona, Spain. 25 September, 2016:
The ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ build the base of a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day of Human Towers at Gracia

Barcelona, Spain. 20 November, 2016:
The ‘Castellers de la Vila de Gracia’ build  human tower during a ‘diada castellera’ at Barcelona’s Gracia quarter

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2016

Barcelona, Spain. 25 September, 2016:
The ‘Colla Jove Xiquets de Valls’ build a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day of Human Towers at Gracia

Barcelona, Spain. 20 November, 2016:
The united hands of a base of a human tower by the ‘Castellers de la Vila de Gracia’ during a ‘diada castellera’ at Barcelona’s Gracia quarter

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2017

Barcelona, Spain. 23 September, 2017:
The ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ build the base of a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2017

Barcelona, Spain. 23 September, 2017:
The ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ build the base of a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2017

Barcelona, Spain. 23 September, 2017:
The ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ build the base of a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Day Of Invited Castellers – La Merce 2017

Barcelona, Spain. 23 September, 2017:
The ‘Castellers de Barcelona’ build the base of a human tower during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

Pro-Independence Spirit at Day Of Local Castellers – La Merce 2017

Barcelona, Spain. 24 September, 2017:
A human tower of the ‘Colla Jove de Barcelona’ collapses after being built during Barcelona’s city holiday ‘La Merce’

About

Matthias Oesterle

Matthias Oesterle

Graduated graphic designer Matthias Oesterle finds out to be a news and documentary photographer "by accident" when visiting Barcelona's occupied Catalonia Square during the protests of the 15-M Movement back in 2011 out of pure curiosity.

His background of more than 20 years in the world of images as On-Air designer in the news section of the biggest German private TV chain, independent web-designer/developer and Art-Director at one of Spain's leading advertising agencies and his passion for this new "way of life" helps him to capture images that are very soon published in BILD, Daily Mail, the Guardian, EL Pais, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, National Geographic, Paris Match, Smithonian, Spiegel, Stern, Telegraph, the Times, Time, Welt, WSJ etc.

Some of his photos are essential part of the story 'FIESTA!' when Róbert Csere of .týždeň wins the 2015 NPPA Magazine Picture Editor of the Year and a honorable mention for the best story opener. Born in Germany in 1969 he actually lives in Barcelona and Menorca.