Castelló intergenerational escape room set for 3 October

Castelló d'Empúries will host an escape room on Saturday 3 October that brings grandparents, children and families together to solve puzzles as a team. The activity, called Els exploradors de l'edat perduda (The Explorers of the Lost Age), also aims to challenge stereotypes about age.

The game is organised by the Fundació Privada Hospital de Santa Llúcia de Castelló d'Empúries, a private foundation linked to the town's historic Santa Llúcia hospital. It is run with the support of Castelló d'Empúries town council, the Ajuntament, and the Fundació "la Caixa", the charitable foundation connected to the Catalan banking group.

Puzzles for every age

The escape room is designed for older people, children and their families. Players will rely on games, imagination, ingenuity and riddles to move through the challenge.

The idea is that each generation brings something different to the table. Organisers want to show what people of different ages can achieve when they work together, rather than side by side.

The format follows the familiar escape room model, in which a group must crack a series of clues to complete a mission. Here, the emphasis is on shared family time instead of competition.

Tackling ageism through play

Alongside the fun, the activity has a clear message. It sets out to explore the value of old age and to raise the issue of ageism, meaning prejudice or discrimination against people because of their age.

Participants will be encouraged to reflect on common stereotypes about older people and on the forms of discrimination linked to age. The organisers have chosen a playful approach to these topics, so that children and adults can discuss them in a relaxed setting.

The event's closing message sums up the spirit of the day: age is no barrier when people combine experience, imagination and a desire to have fun.

Times, venue and registration

The escape room will take place at the Centre de Dia de Castelló d'Empúries, the town's day centre for older residents. There will be two sessions, one at 15:30 and a second at 17:30.

In-person registration was held on Wednesday 23 September, between 15:00 and 18:00, at the Casal, the local community centre. That date has now passed, but places can also be booked online using the QR code printed on the event poster.

Families interested in taking part should check the poster for the QR code and sign up for their preferred session.

Those planning a full Saturday out can also combine the afternoon with a trip to Figueres, where the old prison gardens open on 3 October.

Why It Matters

For a municipality like Castelló d'Empúries, which includes Empuriabrava and has a large number of older residents and retirees, many of them from abroad, an event that puts grandparents and grandchildren on the same team is a welcome idea. It suggests local institutions are looking beyond traditional care services and towards activities that keep older people visible and involved in community life.

The involvement of the town council and the Fundació "la Caixa" alongside the Santa Llúcia foundation also points to a shared interest in social projects with a light touch. It fits with other efforts to get residents engaged, such as the town's participatory budget of €250,000.

It is worth watching whether the escape room draws enough families to become a regular fixture. If it does, the format could be adapted for other dates or venues across the Alt Empordà.