Minden, Germany
13th century
Mainz, Germany
1763-1774
Heilbronn, Germany
c. 1100
Soest, Germany
11th century
Breisach am Rhein, Germany
12th century
Freising, Germany
1159-1205
Alpirsbach, Germany
1095
Benediktbeuern, Germany
739 AD
Lüneburg, Germany
1407-1440
Worms, Germany
8th century AD
Hildesheim, Germany
1146
Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
1120
Hildesheim, Germany
1172
Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany
1263
Lübeck, Germany
1227
Idar-Oberstein, Germany
1482
Kempten (Allgäu), Germany
1652-1748
Ostritz, Germany
1234
Tegernsee, Germany
746-765 AD
Bad Säckingen, Germany
6th 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.