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Founded: c. 1400Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Habsburg Dynasty (Germany)
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St. George’s Church in Wiek was built in several phases from about 1400 onwards to the site of an early structure mentioned in 1318. Brick building on carefully hewn large boulders in the foundation and lower courses. Two choir bays and sacristy from the first building phase, with four cross-vaulted, three-aisle nave bays and narthex added a little later. At various places, late Medieval murals and crosses from about 1500 have been uncovered in the vault. The burial vault was added in 1787 and free-standing bell-cote around 1600. The complete restoration was made in 1826.
Oldest furnishing is the limestone font from 1250 (probably from the preceding building). Worth noting are also late-Medieval equestrian statue of a St. George sitting upright in the saddle with open visor and hair to his shoulders, dating from the early 15th century (a gift from a Pomeranian duchess on the consecration of the church), rood beam with crucifix of the triumphal cross ensemble dating from 1300 and figures of Mary (about 1500) and John from the second half of the 15th century (probably assembled in 1826).
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.