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St David's parish church in Llanddew dates from around the 13th century and has a cruciform shape, with a central tower. At one time, there were monastic buildings at the church, and the monks would go around the local area preaching and giving communion.
The manor belongs to the Bishops of Saint Davids, who formerly had a residence or bishop's palace there, of which some ruins still remain. These incorporate a double-sided vaulted well, known as Bishop Gower's Well.
Llanddew Palace was the favoured residence of 12th-13th century clergyman and author Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales), and hosted the Archbishop of Canterbury Baldwin of Exeter in 1188 during his mission through Wales recruiting for the Crusades.
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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.