Manderscheid, Germany
1135/1922
Bingen am Rhein, Germany
1893
Barth, Germany
1573
Billerbeck, Germany
1234
Germersheim, Germany
13th century
Polling, Germany
8th century AD
Rehna, Germany
1230-1254
Lichtental, Germany
1245
Grossheubach, Germany
1630s
Altomünster, Germany
750 AD
Waase, Germany
1440
Cismar, Germany
1238
Stendal, Germany
1188
Waldsassen, Germany
1128-1132
Schaprode, Germany
13th century
Aldersbach, Germany
1127
Metten, Germany
766 AD
Groß Zicker, Germany
c. 1360
Zweibrücken, Germany
1493-1514
Simmern-Rheinböllen, Germany
1074
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.