Ahrensburg, Germany
1595
Schönau, Germany
13th century
Schesslitz, Germany
12th century
Waischenfeld, Germany
11th century
Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany
1538-1566
Lemgo, Germany
1570-1587
Klingenmünster, Germany
c. 1200
Wegberg, Germany
17th century
Diez, Germany
11th century
Langerwehe, Germany
13th century
Blomberg, Germany
13th century
Brodenbach, Germany
12th century
Frauenstein, Germany
13th century
Pfarrweisach, Germany
13th century
Oppenheim, Germany
13th century
Untergruppenbach, Germany
11th century
Bedburg, Germany
13th century
Illingen, Germany
14th century
Kerpen, Germany
13th century
Kronburg, Germany
c. 1200
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.