Coburg, Germany
12th century
Ingolstadt, Germany
1418
Kronach, Germany
13th century
Bernkastel-Kues, Germany
13th century
Plön, Germany
1633-1636
Parsberg, Germany
14th century
Kleve, Germany
11th century
Zschopau, Germany
12th century
Müglitztal, Germany
c. 1200
Lunzenau, Germany
1470-1548
Beilstein, Germany
12th century
Hohentwiel, Germany
914
Herten, Germany
14th century
Rheda, Germany
18th century
Dornum, Germany
14th century
Mayen, Germany
12th century
Pfronten, Germany
1313
Trechtingshausen, Germany
1100
Gnandstein, Germany
13th century
Selm, Germany
1122
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.