St James's Church was present in the area during the Norman period, but due to sand invasion by the later 14th century a new church had to be built, using some of the earlier materials. The date 1471, displayed on the roof indicates that the churches was rebuilt at that time. In 1877 the church was extensively renovated, and further restored by F W Waller in 1891, when the chancel was given a new roof and the church was fitted with a new organ chamber.
References: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.