Avenches, Switzerland
2nd century AD
Chelva, Spain
1st century AD
Mirabella Eclano, Italy
1st century BCE
Mérida, Spain
1st century AD
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, France
72 BCE
Lipari, Italy
4th century BCE
Vieux, France
0 - 200 AD
Eslava, Spain
1st century BCE
Canosa di Puglia, Italy
4th century AD
Kobuleti, Georgia
535 AD
Saintes, France
1st century AD
Mérida, Spain
1st century AD
Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1st century AD
Valognes, France
0 - 100 AD
Atripalda, Italy
1st century BCE
Avella, Italy
1st century BCE
Luynes, France
2nd century AD
Mikri Doxipara, Greece
2nd century AD
Avenches, Switzerland
98 AD
Archar, Bulgaria
4th century BC
Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.
The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.
These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.