Dortmund, Germany
13th century
Bad Bergzabern, Germany
16th century
Ratzenried, Germany
12th century
Roes, Germany
12th century
Bischofsheim in der Rhön, Germany
12th century
Sande, Germany
1671
Hammelburg, Germany
11th century
Glauchau, Germany
1470
Nümbrecht, Germany
11th century/1635
Hartenstein, Saxony, Germany
12th century
Nagold, Germany
c. 1100
Jülich, Germany
16th century
Münsingen, Germany
c. 1200
Gerolstein, Germany
12th century
Mechernich, Germany
14th century
Virneburg, Germany
12th century
Stein an der Traun, Germany
12th century
Sulzdorf an der Lederhecke, Germany
1667
Wolkenstein, Germany
14th century
Obertrubach, Germany
c. 1330
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.