Nesebar, Bulgaria
13th century
Nesebar, Bulgaria
6th century AD
Sofia, Bulgaria
10th century AD
Varna, Bulgaria
12th century
Ruse, Bulgaria
15th century
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
1230
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
11th century
Ruse, Bulgaria
1632
Ivanovo, Bulgaria
13th century
Sofia, Bulgaria
1910-1940
Gabrovo, Bulgaria
12th century
Shumen, Bulgaria
1740-1744
Mezdra, Bulgaria
16th century
Sofia, Bulgaria
1345
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
13th century
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
12th century
Sofia, Bulgaria
1493
Veliki Preslav, Bulgaria
10th century AD
Varshets, Bulgaria
1240/1869
Gabrovo, Bulgaria
1833
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.