Schwarzenburg, Switzerland
12th century
Bern, Switzerland
13th century
Kandergrund, Switzerland
12th century
Münsingen, Switzerland
1550
Wimmis, Switzerland
13th century
Riggisberg, Switzerland
1700
Schlosswil, Switzerland
12th century
Amsoldingen, Switzerland
10th century AD
Thun, Switzerland
13th century
Trachselwald, Switzerland
11th century
Bern, Switzerland
13th century
Worb, Switzerland
12th century
Gals, Switzerland
1270-1300
Burgistein, Switzerland
14th century
Meiringen, Switzerland
c. 1250
Weissenburg, Switzerland
13th century
Signau, Switzerland
12th century
Sumiswald, Switzerland
1730
Thunstetten, Switzerland
1711
Allmendingen, Switzerland
17th 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.