Lenzkirch, Germany
1225-1239
Efringen-Kirchen, Germany
11th century
Bad Ditzenbach, Germany
1289
Hartenstein, Germany
12th century
Jechtingen, Germany
365/13th century
Sachsenheim, Germany
13th century
Binau, Germany
1030
Mühlhausen, Germany
1260-1280
Hecklingen, Germany
1282
Neckargemünd, Germany
12th century
Lonetal, Germany
1150-1180
Lohr am Main, Germany
8th century AD
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.