Zbiroh Castle (today a residential palace) is the main local tourist attraction. The original castle was established in the early 13th century by Břetislav of Zbiroh. In 1868 the old castle was bought by Baron Bethel Heinrich Strousberg, who altered it radically as a Neo-Renaissance style palace. During the World War II it was headquarters of local SS army. Today it is a hotel. The well located in Zbiroh Castle, 163 m deep, is the deepest castle well in Europe.
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.