The Castle of Biar overlooks the town of Biar in the Alt Vinalopó district of Spain's Valencian Community. Records from the Muslim period mention it, but few remains survive from that time. It gained importance under James I of Aragon, when it served as a border fortress under the Treaty of Almizra.
Its centerpiece is the tower of homage from the 12th century. It is square, has three floors, stands about 19 meters tall and is built with sand-and-lime mortar. The lower floor has a barrel vault, while the upper two floors use Almohad ribbed vaults, which rank among the oldest in Spain and North Africa.
Its role faded in the early modern period, and it was later used, though rarely, as a cemetery. It became a national monument in 1931.
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