Heidelberg, Germany
13th century
Tübingen, Germany
c. 1037
Bad Wimpfen, Germany
12th century
Haßmersheim, Germany
c. 1225
Dilsberg, Germany
12th century
Heidelberg, Germany
12th century
Hirschhorn, Germany
1250-1260
Neckarsteinach, Germany
12th century
Neckarzimmern, Germany
12th century
Bad Rappenau, Germany
1601
Schriesheim, Germany
Neckarsteinach, Germany
13th century
Dossenheim, Germany
12th century
Neckarsteinach, Germany
c. 1165
Weinsberg, Germany
c. 1000
Gundelsheim, Germany
1200/1533
Zwingenberg, Germany
1404
Eberbach, Germany
12th century
Neckarsteinach, Germany
13th century
Eberbach, Germany
13th 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.