Montcaret, France
1st century AD
Arras, France
15 BC
Köngen, Germany
100 AD
Mezdra, Bulgaria
3rd century AD
Baena, Spain
1st century BCE
Bern, Switzerland
1st century BCE
Portmán, Spain
1st century BCE
San Roque, Spain
940 BCE
Pula, Croatia
100-0 BCE
Split, Croatia
4th century AD
Termini Imerese, Italy
2nd century BCE
Dalheim, Luxembourg
100-200 AD
Mamer, Luxembourg
0-200 AD
Rome, Italy
144-140 BCE
Blankenheim, Germany
1st century AD
Varaždinske Toplice, Croatia
0-300 AD
Lienz, Austria
50 BC
Patti, Italy
2nd century AD
Pleven, Bulgaria
4th century AD
Thénac, France
1st century AD
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.