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When one castle just isn’t enough build another. The ancestral castle of the Hohenzollern dynasty Burg Hohenzollern is on a mountaintop about 40 minutes away, but getting to a mountain castle takes a lot of effort, so better to have the palace more accessable. The small village of Sigmaringen in the Swabian region of Baden-Wurttemberg is just north of Lake Constance (the Bodensee) dominated by the magnificent palace castle of one of the most significant families in Europe’s history. Aside from ruling Prussia and Swabia, Carol I von Hohenzollern son of Leopold the First became King of Rumania starting the Rumanian royal line until the communist take-over, and Kaiser Wilhelm II was the last Emperor of Germany until the first world war kind of ruined the whole aristocratic succession system for everyone. But just because your country gets taken away doesn’t mean you can't keep the house.

One of the largest royal palaces still in private hands in continental Europe, Sigmaringen Castle has been the primary residence of the Hohenzollerns since 1535. The current castle, perched on a cliff overlooking the Danube River flowing through the low mountain terrain of southern Germany consists of architectural styles from the earlier fortress from the middle-ages to a style referred to as “Jugendstil”. Red tile roof and a massive wall of windows looks out impressively on the river below.

In contrast to the other Hohenzollern Castle on its mountain top (see Castle Hohenzollern), Schloss Sigmaringen is nestled right in the town of the same name on a crossroads of winding highways east of the Black Forest. Guided tours are provided through the great cavernous bedrooms and grand ballrooms, with a unique intimate view into the dressing habits of grand duchesses. The palace is also a private museum with artworks, original furniture, tapestries and clocks collected over centuries of grand living.

Other curious signs of aristocratic personality to be found at Sigmaringen is a hunting trophy room of over several hundred animal skulls primarily all the work of one Hohenzellern Prince with lots of time on his hands. Sigmaringen is also the repository of one of the largest private collections of medieval arms and armor of over 3,000 pieces filling a long hallway at the end of the tour. Close enough to touch, the collection display is ruined a bit by the wire fence intended to protect the valuable collection from curious hands. One special bit of history connected with the castle are the rooms occupied briefly in WWII by the French Vichy government. The modern day family no longer lives at the palace, so you probably won’t run into a Hohenzollern Prince. They have another house just outside of town, which I’m sure is also quite a nice place.

Schloss Simaringen is open for tours from February through November from 9:30 to 4:30 and a little longer during the summer, and about an hour and half drive from Stuttgart, Zurich and two hours from Munich. The two Hohenzollern Castle are easily close enoughto visit both on the same trip. The gift shop has lots of middle ages knights and damosel gifts for the kids. © Bargain Travel Europe

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Schloss Sigmaringen

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See Also:

CASTLE MARKSBURG
The original Rhine Knight’s Castle

BURG RÖTTELN
Castle in Autumn Baden-Wurttemburg

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