Annweiler, Germany
12th century
Essingen, Germany
12th century
Sulzdorf an der Lederhecke, Germany
12th century
Bruch, Germany
14th century
Kirchberg (Rhineland-Palatinate), Germany
14th century
Frankenstein, Germany
13th century
Pfedelbach, Germany
1568-1572
Ilshofen, Germany
13th century
Thierstein, Germany
14th century
Strehla, Germany
1335
Reinsberg, Germany
12th century
Riedheim, Germany
13th century
Scheinfeld, Germany
1608-1618
Ipsheim, Germany
12th century
Bopfingen, Germany
11th century
Dhronecken, Germany
13th century
Nohfelden, Germany
13th century
Wäschenbeuren, Germany
1220
Falkenstein, Germany
c. 1074
Trippstadt, Germany
12th century
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.