The first documents of Zalatambor Castle date back to 1024. This fort became known since the 13th century as the castle of Zalatambor, coinciding with the first fortifications made in the main rock.
In addition to the successive extensions and reforms of Zalatambor, the defense of the city was reinforced with the construction of a new castle, Belmecher, in 1276, and a tower as a defensive watchtower that, following the mountainous ridge, guarded the path of Castile. The three fortifications were joined by a wall forming the Estella castle enclosure, totally independent from the city.
Zalatambor Castle was a royal residence during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, with numerous rooms prepared for this purpose. However, since the mid-15th century the state of the castle, the result of the crisis caused by the civil war between Agramonteses and Beaumonteses, forced the monarchs to lodge during their stay in the noblest houses of the city.
In 1512 , the Beaumontesa-Castilian coalition conquered the castle, which, along with the rest of the kingdom, passed into Castilian hands. However, it continued in use until 1572, when the new defensive plan against France led to the construction of the citadel of Pamplona and the abandonment of the medieval Navarrese castles.
Its partial destruction was carried out by blowing up the main defensive elements. However, the current state of the castle is mainly due to its use as a quarry, documented in numerous lawsuits since its blasting.
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.