Castle of Biar facts for kids
The Castle of Biar is an old fortress. It stands on a hill. This hill overlooks the town of Biar. Biar is in the Valencian Community, Spain.
A Look Back: Castle History
The Castle of Biar has a long history. It was first mentioned during the time of Muslim rule. The castle became very important during the time of James I of Aragon. It served as a border castle. This was decided by an important agreement called the Treaty of Almizra.
In later years, the castle was not used as much. It even became a cemetery for a while. In 1931, the castle was named a National Monument. Today, it is part of the famous Route of the Castles of Vinalopó.
What the Castle Looks Like
The castle was built using strong stone. It also used a special building method called rammed earth. This method was used for the main tower.
The castle has two main parts:
- One part is a round-shaped area. It has four towers at its corners.
- The other part has four square buildings. It also includes the main tower, called the Tower of Homage.
These towers and buildings helped defend the castle. Its high position on a rocky hill also made it hard to attack. The castle walls have small openings. These were for defense. The top of the walls has battlements. These are the parts that look like teeth.
The Tall Tower of Homage
The most important part of the castle is the Tower of Homage. It was built in the 1100s. This tower is 19 meters (about 62 feet) tall. It was built with a mix of sand and lime.
The tower has a square shape. It has three floors. The bottom floor has a rounded ceiling. This is called a barrel vault. The second and third floors have a special type of ceiling. It is called an Almohad ribbed vault. These vaults are very old. They are some of the oldest in Spain. They are also found in the Maghreb region. These are the only ones used in a military building in the Iberian Peninsula.
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