Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany
13th century
Bautzen, Germany
1456-1463
Mainz, Germany
1240-1330
Andechs, Germany
1455
Essen, Germany
1275-1316
Blaubeuren, Germany
1085
Lüneburg, Germany
1300-1370
Bad Münstereifel, Germany
11th century
Mainz, Germany
1290-1335
Bamberg, Germany
1015
Weimar, Germany
1498-1500
Wismar, Germany
1381-1460
Cologne, Germany
12th century
Hildesheim, Germany
1010-1020
Osnabrück, Germany
12th century
Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany
1490-1511
Landshut, Germany
1389-1500
Bebenhausen, Germany
1183
Munich, Germany
1835
Görlitz, Germany
1423-1497
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.