Lüdinghausen, Germany
1120
Mechernich, Germany
13th century
Mechernich, Germany
15th century
Hörstel, Germany
c. 1400
Morenhoven, Germany
12th century
Euskirchen, Germany
12th century
Heistern, Germany
1333
Lüdenscheid, Germany
14th century
Warburg, Germany
c. 1250
Bad Münstereifel, Germany
13th century
Salzkotten, Germany
1347-1357
Petershagen, Germany
1306
Bonn, Germany
14th century
Nörvenich, Germany
1400
Euskirchen, Germany
13th century
Harth, Germany
14th century
Schleiden, Germany
c.1300
Euskirchen, Germany
14th century
Euskirchen, Germany
14th century
Schleiden, Germany
12th 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.