The château in Zruč nad Sázavou has evolved over the centuries, starting out as a medieval castle, which was later rebuilt as a Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist residence, until it was finally modified in a Historicist style towards the end of the 19th century. Its history was most significantly influenced by the noble house of Kolowrat and the Schebek family. Following the large fire in 1781, the château was rebuilt into its current neo-Gothic form.
Today, walking through the château interior is like taking a fascinating stroll through time, since each room is furnished in a different style – from antiquity all the way to art nouveau. There is a Museum of Boating near the castle, featuring a range of historic and modern water craft.
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.