Piding, Germany
12th century
Kirchhausen, Germany
1570
Train, Germany
15th century
Hermaringen, Germany
1346
Fronberg, Germany
c. 1305
Wallerstein, Germany
1805
Neidenstein, Germany
13th century
Lemberg, Germany
13th century
Dellmensingen, Germany
1685
Untersulmetingen, Germany
1538-1542
Wachtberg, Germany
9th century
Lambrecht, Germany
1246
Waldershof, Germany
13th century
Rieshofen, Germany
c. 1290
Niederzier, Germany
1280
Weilerswist, Germany
14th century
Zülpich, Germany
14th century
Lauf, Germany
1300
Blankenheim, Germany
11th century
Sandersdorf, Germany
c. 1646
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.