Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
11th century
Jüchen, Germany
11th century
Burg an der Wupper, Germany
c. 1133
Bielefeld, Germany
13th century
Königswinter, Germany
1138-1167
Raesfeld, Germany
12th century
Monschau, Germany
c. 1217
Gladbeck, Germany
13th century
Lüdinghausen, Germany
13th century
Krefeld, Germany
c. 1200
Mechernich, Germany
1396-1406
Oberhausen, Germany
13th century
Havixbeck, Germany
14th century
Altena, Germany
1108
Aachen, Germany
13th century
Bad Münstereifel, Germany
13th century
Tecklenburg, Germany
c. 1100
Mönchengladbach, Germany
12th century
Zülpich, Germany
14th century
Kleve, Germany
11th 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.