Malberg, Germany
1591-1597
Dietenhofen, Germany
13th century
Elsterberg, Germany
1200-1225
Aufseß, Germany
14th century
Grund, Germany
13th century
Frohburg, Germany
16th century
Burkheim, Germany
13th century
Dahn, Germany
1230-1240
Emmendingen, Germany
c. 1200
Frankenstein, Germany
c. 1100
Burgschwalbach, Germany
1354-1371
Hellenthal, Germany
1202-1235
Mürlenbach, Germany
8th century AD
Bad Driburg, Germany
8th century AD
Neckarsteinach, Germany
13th century
Leibertingen, Germany
13th century
Marienheide, Germany
1273
Oelsnitz, Vogtland, Germany
c. 1200
Insel Neuwerk, Germany
1300-1310
Lambrecht, 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.