Wismar, Germany
13th century
Regensburg, Germany
739 AD
Augsburg, Germany
10th century
Fulda, Germany
1704-1712
Saarbrücken, Germany
1768-1775
Hamburg, Germany
1890-1893
Stralsund, Germany
13th century
Herrenberg, Germany
1276-1493
Rostock, Germany
1270
Cologne, Germany
1130-1160
Fulda, Germany
820-822 AD
Naumburg (Saale), Germany
13th century
Stralsund, Germany
1254
Hildesheim, Germany
c. 1389
Meißen, Germany
c. 1258
Hanover, Germany
1163
Boppard, Germany
14th century
Hildesheim, Germany
1010-1022
Regensburg, Germany
c. 1100
Munich, Germany
1829
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.