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Sigmaringen Castle (German: Schloss Sigmaringen) was the princely castle and seat of government for the Princes of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Situated in the Swabian Alb (German: Schwäbische Alb) region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, this castle dominates the skyline of the town of Sigmaringen. The castle was rebuilt following a fire in 1893, and only the towers of the earlier medieval fortress remain. Schloss Sigmaringen was a family estate of the Swabian Hohenzollern family, a branch of the Hohenzollern family from which the kings of Germany came. During the closing months of World War II, Schloss Sigmaringen was the seat of the Vichy French Government after France was liberated by the Allies. The castle and museums may be visited throughout the year, but only on guided tours.

Location

Sigmaringen is located on the southern edge of the Swabian Alb a plateau region in southern Baden-Württemberg. The Hohenzollern castle was built below the narrow Danube river valley in the modern Upper Danube Nature Park (German: Naturpark Obere Donau). The castle rises above the Danube River on a towering chalk projection of the white jura formation. The hill is known simply as the Schlossberg or Castle Rock. The Schlossberg is about 200 m long and up to 35 m above the river. On this free standing rock tower, the princely Hohenzollern castle is the largest of the Danube valley castles. The shear cliffs and steep sides of the tower made it a natural site for a well protected medieval castle. The castle is located about 605 m above sea level, while the Danube is about 570 m.

History

The first castle at Sigmaringen appeared during the end of the Early Middle Ages, during the early 11^th Century. The castle was first mentioned in 1077^[1] following the unsuccessful siege of Burg Sigmaringen by Rudolf von Swabia in his fight against the King of Germany, Henry IV^[2]. In 1083 a pair of brothers, Ludwig and Manegold von Sigmaringen, are listed as witnesses on a document for the Königseggwald abbey.

Ludwig von Sigmaringen was married to Richinza von Spitzenberg, daughter of Berthold I. von Zähringen^[3]. At the end of the 11^th Century he built a castle on Spitzenberg mountain by Kuchen, Germany. The castle and the surrounding land and villages were part of the inheritance of Richinza. From the marriage of Richinza and Ludwig they had four children; Mathilde von Spitzenberg, the wife of Aribo von Wertingen, the clergyman Ulrich von Sigmaringen, Ludwig II. von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg and Manegold von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg. The three brothers, Ulrich, Ludwig and Mangold von Sigmaringen are named as the founders of the 11^th Century St. George's Abbey in the Black Forest.

From 1133 until 1170 Rudolf von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg, the son of Ludwig II. von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg, ruled at Sigmaringen. In 1183 Graf (or Count) Ludwig von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg-Helfenstein, the son of Rudolf, is mentioned at the castle. In 1147 Ludwig as well as his father Rudolf and brother Ulrich II von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg, is mentioned in a document from Walters von Dillingen, Bishop of Augsburg, as lords of Spitzenberg-Sigmaringen.

Under the Helfenstein family, the castle was renovated around 1200Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). in 1530 as Count Felix I was in the bath house with Leonora Werdenberg (the illegitimate daughter of Hugo IX and the mistress of Felix and Christoph von Werdenberg^[4]) the bath house fire was allowed to spread, leading to a fire that expanded throughout the outbuildings around the castle.

In 1534, following the death of the last male member of the Werdenberger family, Count Friedrich von Fürstenberg demanded the Werdenberger lands. However, King Ferdinand I granted the fief of Sigmaringen and Veringen, in 1535, to Charles I of Hohenzollern (1516-1576), the son from Johanna von Bröselns first marriage with Friedrich III. von Hohenzollern.^[5]

Charles I was the first Hohenzollern to rule in Sigmaringen.

In 1539 there was another fire that damaged the castle.

A year later, in 1540 Sigmaringen and Veringen were transferred to the House of Hohenzollern as part of the Pfullendorf agreement (German: Pfullendorfer Vertrag). Count Charles I. von Hohenzollern occupied the castle.

Charles II. von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1547-1606), son of Charles I was the count of Sigmaringen from 1576 until 1606. He was also the founder of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen line of the Hohenzollern family. Under Charles II the castle was renovatedCite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).. Prince Karl Anton's passion for collecting weapons resulted in the creation of this collection. The collection shows the evolution of weapons from the 14^th Century to the 20^th Century. In addition to weapons, the collection also includes protective items such as shields, armor and handguns. Particularly noteworthy are such rare objects dating from the 15th century as a German multi-barrel gun, a body shield and a richly engraved helmet once belonging to a royal bodyguard from ca.1622^[6]. The collection includes not just European weapons but also weapons that were considered exotic, such as persian weapons and the full equipment of a japanese Samurai.

In the Galeriebau (English: Gallery Building), built from 1862 to 1867 under Prince Karl Anton, west of the castle is a collection of medieval torture instruments. The torture chamber with its instruments illustrates an earlier sense of justice.

Pre and Ancient History Collection

In addition to the torture museum, the Galeriebau also houses a Pre and Ancient history museum. The collections give a picture of life from the Stone Age until the end of the Merovingian dynasty (10.000 B.C. until 700 A.D.). It also includes artifacts from the roman settlements around Sigmaringen. Karl Anton wasn't just fascinated by weapons and hunting, he also loved history and archeology. In 1881 during construction of a canal in the Sigmaringen Market Square, Roman pottery shards and iron work were found. This discovery excited Karl Anton, and he ordered a member of the court F. A. von Lehner to search for and archeologically explore the Villa Rustica in the area. Finds from this Roman estate as well as other nearby estates are including in the collection.

Marstallmuseum

Located south west of the castle is the royal stables (German: Marstall). The building now houses the Marstallmuseum, a collection of princely carriages. Carriages, coachs, sleds and sedan chairs are presented in an open building. Additionally, equipment for the horses including saddles, horse shoes and spurs, are on display in the museum. One of the exibits, a manual firefighting pump dates back to the fire in the castle in 1893. The fire raged for three days because the connections on the modern firefighting equipment didn't match the castle's connections. Water had to be brought up by a human chain in buckets from the Danube to the castle.

Visiting the castle

The castle may only be visited as part of a tour. The tours are in German only, though translated guides are available. The castle is open March and April: 9:30-16:30 May to October: 9:00-17:00 November to February: 10:00-15:30

References

^ House of Hohenzollern website-The Castle accessed 15 November, 2008
^ From the Chronicle of Petershausen Abbey: From there King Rudolf of Swabia marched to Burg Sigmaringen and besieged it. Once he discovered that King Henry IV. and his army approached though the alpine passes toward his army, he lifted the siege and moved to Sachsen.
^ Template:De iconFrom Heinz Bühler: Richinza von Spitzenberg und ihr Verwandtenkreis. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein. In: Württembergisch Franken, Heft 58, 1974. In the book she is called vidua de Spitzenberg
^ Zimmerische Chronik:Band 2:Seite 267
^ Dörr (1988). Schwäbische Alb: Bergen, Schlösser, Ruinen. Schwäbisch-Hall, Germany: E. Schwend GmbH & Co. pp. 78–80. ISBN 3-616-06727-8.
^ Cite error: The named reference Hohenzollern was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

Template:German

German References

Chronik der Grafen von Zimmern, 1564-1566, Band 1-3. Hrsg. Decker-Hauff, 1964/67
Die Kunstdenkmäler Hohenzollerns, Band 2. Landkreis Sigmaringen, 1948
Gerd Dörr: Schwäbische Alb, Burgen, Schlösser, Ruinen. HB-Bildstlas. 1988
Wilhelm Gradmann: Burgen und Schlösser der Schwäbischen Alb. 1980
Handbuch Historischer Stätten Deutschlands. Baden Württemberg. 1965
Gustav Hebeisen: Schloß Sigmaringen In: Burgwart. 1924. Nr. 1/2 Fürstliches Hohenzollernsches Schloß Sigmaringen
Prinz Johann Georg von Hohenzollern: Der Museumsbau in Sigmaringen In: Blätter des Landes Denkmalamt, 1962
Alfons Kasper: Kunstwanderungen kreuz und quer der Donau. 1964
Walter Kaufhold: Schloß Sigmaringen. Die Geschichte der Burg- u. der Schloßherren. In: Kunstführer Nr. 580. Verlag Schnell & Steiner. München 1953
Walter Kaufhold, Rudolf Seigel: Schloß Sigmaringen und das Fürstliche Haus Hohenzollern. Konstanz 1966
Walter Kaufhold, Das Fürstlich Hohenzollernsche Museum in Sigmaringen, Schnell Kunstführer Nr. 1269, Verlag Schnell & Steiner, München und Zürich 1981
Peter Kempf: Schloß Sigmaringen mit Sammlungen In: Blätter des Schwäbischen Albvereins, Nr. 2, 1987. 1987
Naturpark Obere Donau. Wanderführer 1964
Wilfried Pfefferkorn: Burgen unseres Landes - Schwäbische Alb. 1962
Günter Schmitt: Sigmaringen. In: Ders.: Burgenführer Schwäbische Alb. Band 3: Donautal. Wandern und entdecken zwischen Sigmaringen und Tuttlingen. S. 41-62. Biberacher Verlagsdruckerei. Biberach 1990. ISBN 3-924489-50-5
Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der europäischen Staaten. Band 1 und 2. 1965
Stefan Uhl: Buckelquader an Burgen. Manuskript. 1983
Johann Nepomuk Vanotti: Geschichte der Grafen von Montfort und von Werdenberg. 1988
Helmut Voith: Führer durch die Museen im Kreis Sigmaringen. 1986
Eva Walter, Walter Pfündel: Strefzüge im Donautal. 1989
Dr. Karl Theodor Zingeler und Georg Buck: Zollerische Schlösser, Burgen und Burgruinen in Schwaben. 1906

48°05′16″N 9°13′01″E / 48.08778°N 9.21694°E / 48.08778; 9.21694

[Sig_History-1] House of Hohenzollern website-The Castle accessed 15 November, 2008

[2] From the Chronicle of Petershausen Abbey: From there King Rudolf of Swabia marched to Burg Sigmaringen and besieged it. Once he discovered that King Henry IV. and his army approached though the alpine passes toward his army, he lifted the siege and moved to Sachsen.

[3] Template:De iconFrom Heinz Bühler: Richinza von Spitzenberg und ihr Verwandtenkreis. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein. In: Württembergisch Franken, Heft 58, 1974. In the book she is called vidua de Spitzenberg

[4] Zimmerische Chronik:Band 2:Seite 267

[Dorr-5] Dörr (1988). Schwäbische Alb: Bergen, Schlösser, Ruinen. Schwäbisch-Hall, Germany: E. Schwend GmbH & Co. pp. 78–80. ISBN 3-616-06727-8.

[Hohenzollern-6] Cite error: The named reference Hohenzollern was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ==History==
 [[Image:Sigmaringen Schlossberg2.JPG|thumb|left|Looking up the castle hill to the castle]]
-The first castle at Sigmaringen appeared during the end of the [[Early Middle Ages]], during the early [[11th Century|11<sup>th</sup> Century]].  The castle was first mentioned in 1077 following the unsuccessful [[siege]] of ''Burg Sigmaringen'' by Rudolf von [[Swabia]] in his fight against the [[King of Germany]], [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry IV]]<ref> From the Chronicle of [[Petershausen Abbey]]: ''From there King Rudolf of Swabia marched to Burg Sigmaringen and besieged it.  Once he discovered that King Henry IV. and his army approached though the alpine passes toward his army, he lifted the siege and moved to [[Sachsen]].''</ref>.  In 1083 a pair of brothers, Ludwig and Manegold von Sigmaringen, are listed as witnesses on a document for the [[Königseggwald]] abbey.
+The first castle at Sigmaringen appeared during the end of the [[Early Middle Ages]], during the early [[11th Century|11<sup>th</sup> Century]].  The castle was first mentioned in 1077<ref name="Sig History">[http://www.hohenzollern.com/schloss-sigmaringen/en/schloss/baustile.php House of Hohenzollern website-The Castle] accessed [[15 November]], [[2008]]</ref> following the unsuccessful [[siege]] of ''Burg Sigmaringen'' by Rudolf von [[Swabia]] in his fight against the [[King of Germany]], [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry IV]]<ref> From the Chronicle of [[Petershausen Abbey]]: ''From there King Rudolf of Swabia marched to Burg Sigmaringen and besieged it.  Once he discovered that King Henry IV. and his army approached though the alpine passes toward his army, he lifted the siege and moved to [[Sachsen]].''</ref>.  In 1083 a pair of brothers, Ludwig and Manegold von Sigmaringen, are listed as witnesses on a document for the [[Königseggwald]] abbey.
 Ludwig von Sigmaringen was married to Richinza von Spitzenberg, daughter of [[Berthold II, Duke of Carinthia|Berthold I.]] [[House of Zähringen|von Zähringen]]<ref>{{de_icon}}From Heinz Bühler: ''Richinza von Spitzenberg und ihr Verwandtenkreis. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein''. In: Württembergisch Franken, Heft 58, 1974.  ''In the book she is called '''vidua de Spitzenberg''' ''</ref>.  At the end of the 11<sup>th</sup> Century he built a castle on ''Spitzenberg'' mountain by [[Kuchen, Germany]].  The castle and the surrounding land and villages were part of the inheritance of Richinza.  From the marriage of Richinza and Ludwig they had four children; Mathilde von Spitzenberg, the wife of Aribo von [[Wertingen]], the [[clergyman]] Ulrich von Sigmaringen, Ludwig II. von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg and Manegold von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg.  The three brothers, Ulrich, Ludwig and Mangold von Sigmaringen are named as the founders of the 11<sup>th</sup> Century [[St. George's Abbey in the Black Forest]].
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 From 1133 until 1170 Rudolf von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg, the son of Ludwig II. von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg, ruled at Sigmaringen.  In 1183 [[Graf]] (or [[Count]]) Ludwig von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg-[[Ruine Helfenstein|Helfenstein]], the son of Rudolf, is mentioned at the castle.  In 1147 Ludwig as well as his father Rudolf and brother Ulrich II von Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg, is mentioned in a document from Walters von [[Dillingen]], [[Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg|Bishop of Augsburg]], as lords of Spitzenberg-Sigmaringen.
-Under the Helfenstein family, the castle was renovated around 1200.  The castle was totally rebuilt with [[Rustication (architecture)|buckel stones]] (squared off stones with a rounded outer surface).  Between 1209 and 1258 the castle was occupied by Count Gottried von Sigmaringen-Helfenstein and his son Count Gebhard von Sigmaringen-Pietengau.  In 1258 the cousin of Count Gebhard, Count Ulrich II. von Helfenstein, became the owner of Burg Sigmaringen.  Later, Ulrich's daughter Agnes married Count Ulrich I. von Montfort.  Following the marriage in 1272, Sigmaringen was owned by the [[County of Montfort (Vorarlberg)|Counts of Montfort]].  Then, in 1290 Count Hugo V. von Montfort, son of Ulrich I. von Montfort sold the castle and the city of Sigmaringen to Albrecht and Rudolf von [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg]].
+Under the Helfenstein family, the castle was renovated around 1200<ref name="Sig History">.  The castle was totally rebuilt with [[Rustication (architecture)|buckel stones]] (squared off stones with a rounded outer surface).  Between 1209 and 1258 the castle was occupied by Count Gottried von Sigmaringen-Helfenstein and his son Count Gebhard von Sigmaringen-Pietengau.  In 1258 the cousin of Count Gebhard, Count Ulrich II. von Helfenstein, became the owner of Burg Sigmaringen.  Later, Ulrich's daughter Agnes married Count Ulrich I. von Montfort.  Following the marriage in 1272, Sigmaringen was owned by the [[County of Montfort (Vorarlberg)|Counts of Montfort]].  Then, in 1290 Count Hugo V. von Montfort, son of Ulrich I. von Montfort sold the castle and the city of Sigmaringen to Albrecht and Rudolf von [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg]].
 Before 1325 Duke Luipold von Habsburg sold the castle and the [[county]] of Sigmaringen to Count von [[Württemberg]].
-Finally in 1399 Count [[Eberhard III, Count of Württemberg|Eberhard von Württemberg]] granted the castle and county of Sigmaringensein as well as the county of [[Veringen]] in [[March of Austria|Margraviate of Austria]], to his uncle and liegeman Count Eberhard III. von [[County of Werdenberg|Werdenberg]] (1387-1416) as a [[fiefdom|fief]].  His son Count Johann IV. von Werdenberg (1416-1465) and his wife Countess von Württemberg (disinherited by the House of Württemberg), in 1459 inherited the castle and county of Sigmaringen.  The protect his land, in the following year he declared Sigmaringen an Austrian fief.  From 1460 until 1500 the Counts von Werdenberg renovated and expanded the Burg (a military fortress) into ''Schloss Sigmaringen'' (a fortified residence), the dimensions of which remain until today.  Toward the end of the [[15th Century|15<sup>th</sup> Century]] they built two long, angular buildings in the north east.  Then, in the early [[16th Century|16<sup>th</sup> Century]] another wing was added to the west.  The two round towers that flank the entrance to the castle also date from this time<ref name="Dorr"/>
+Finally in 1399 Count [[Eberhard III, Count of Württemberg|Eberhard von Württemberg]] granted the castle and county of Sigmaringensein as well as the county of [[Veringen]] in [[March of Austria|Margraviate of Austria]], to his uncle and liegeman Count Eberhard III. von [[County of Werdenberg|Werdenberg]] (1387-1416) as a [[fiefdom|fief]].  His son Count Johann IV. von Werdenberg (1416-1465) and his wife Countess von Württemberg (disinherited by the House of Württemberg), in 1459 inherited the castle and county of Sigmaringen.  The protect his land, in the following year he declared Sigmaringen an Austrian fief.  From 1460 until 1500 the Counts von Werdenberg renovated and expanded the Burg (a military fortress) into ''Schloss Sigmaringen'' (a fortified residence), the dimensions of which remain until today<ref name="Sig History">.  Toward the end of the [[15th Century|15<sup>th</sup> Century]] they built two long, angular buildings in the north east.  Then, in the early [[16th Century|16<sup>th</sup> Century]] another wing was added to the west.  The two round towers that flank the entrance to the castle also date from this time<ref name="Dorr"/>
 Hugo IX. zu Sigmaringen (1459-1508), son of Johann IV., died without any male offspring.  His sister Anna von Werdenberg married Count Friedrich von [[Fürstenberg (princely family)|Fürstenberg]] in 1516.
@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 A year later, in 1540 Sigmaringen and Veringen were transferred to the House of Hohenzollern as part of the ''[[Pfullendorf]] agreement'' (German: ''Pfullendorfer Vertrag'').  Count Charles I. von Hohenzollern occupied the castle.
 [[Image:Schloss Sigmaringen Hauptportal.jpg|thumb|left|The main gateway]]
-[[Charles II, Count of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Charles II. von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen]] (1547-1606), son of Charles I was the count of Sigmaringen from 1576 until 1606.  He was also the founder of the [[Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen]] line of the Hohenzollern family.  Under Charles II the castle was renovated.  Between 1576 and 1606 the gatehouse was expanded to cover the entrance to the castle and a new church was built near the castle.
+[[Charles II, Count of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Charles II. von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen]] (1547-1606), son of Charles I was the count of Sigmaringen from 1576 until 1606.  He was also the founder of the [[Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen]] line of the Hohenzollern family.  Under Charles II the castle was renovated<ref name="Sig History">.  Between 1576 and 1606 the gatehouse was expanded to cover the entrance to the castle and a new church was built near the castle.
 In 1576 the House of Hohenzollern split into four lines, ''Hohenzollern'' (died out in 1602), ''[[House of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch|Hohenzollern-Haigerloch]]'' (absorbed by Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen after 1630), ''[[Hohenzollern-Hechingen]]'' (died out in 1869) und ''[[Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen]]''.  Sigmaringen was the main residence of the family of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen from 1576 until 1850.
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 Before the siege, Johann fled to [[Bavaria]].  He would remain in Bavaria until his death, at age 60, in 1638.
-Johann's son, [[Meinrad I, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Meinrad I]] (1605-1681), was the prince from 1638 until 1681.  Meinrad had the burned eastern wing rebuilt during 1658 and 1659 by the master builder Michael Beer.  Both eastern buildings, built when the Werdenberg family owned Sigmaringen, were combined under a single roof<ref name="Dorr"/>.
+Johann's son, [[Meinrad I, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Meinrad I]] (1605-1681), was the prince from 1638 until 1681.  Meinrad had the burned eastern wing rebuilt during 1658 and 1659 by the master builder Michael Beer<ref name="Sig History">.  Both eastern buildings, built when the Werdenberg family owned Sigmaringen, were combined under a single roof<ref name="Dorr"/>.
 [[Maximilian, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Maximilian]] (1636-1689), son of Meinrad I, was prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen from 1681 until 1689.
@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 His son [[Meinrad II, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Meinrad II]] (1673-1715) ruled from 1689 until 1715.  From 1698 on he ruled in [[Haigerloch]].  His son, [[Josef, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Josef]] (1702-1769) ruled from 1715 until 1769.  In 1724 Josef ordered the construction of the ''Marstalles'' or royal stables.  In addition to this construction, in 1736 he had the castle modernized and the '''Knights' Hall''' (German: ''Rittersaal'') was converted into the '''Ancestors' Hall''' (German: ''Ahnensaal'').  His son, [[Karl Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Karl Friedrich]] reigned from 1769 until 1785.
-Karl Friedrich's son, [[Anton Aloys, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Anton Aloys]] (1762-1831), reigned from 1785 until 1831.  Between 1815 and 1817 he had the granary rebuilt as a five story knights' building, which became known as the '''Wilhelm's building''' (German: ''Wilhelmsbau'').
+Karl Friedrich's son, [[Anton Aloys, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Anton Aloys]] (1762-1831), reigned from 1785 until 1831.  Between 1815 and 1817 he had the granary rebuilt as a five story knights' building, which became known as '''Wilhelm's building''' (German: ''Wilhelmsbau'').
 Prince [[Karl, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Karl]] (1785-1853), the son of Anton Aloys, ruled from 1831 until 1848.  In 1833 Karl called a constitutional assembly (German: ''Landtag'') together and created a [[constitution]]al charter that would be the law in his lands.  He founded a hospital for his subjects, and had the ''Ständehaus'' built on the modern ''Leopoldsplatz'' in Sigmaringen (today owned by the Hohenzollerischen Landesbank).  Karl also removed the burden of [[serf]]dom and various other [[German town law|medieval laws]].  During the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the German states|German Revolution of 1848]] Karl abdicated in favor of his son, [[Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern|Karl Anton]], on [[August 27]], [[1848]].  In recognition of Karl's efforts to improve the lives of his subjects, in 1857 the hospital that he built was renamed the ''Fürst-Carl-Landesspital'' (Prince Carl Regional Hospital).  In 1869 Karl Anton, following the death of Konstantin the last prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, annexed the lands of Hohenzollern-Hechingen and became the prince of Hohenzollern.
 [[Image:Neptune Portuguese Gallery Schloss Sigmaringen.jpg|thumb|left|Fountain from the Portuguese Gallery]]
-Karl Anton built the castle into a meeting point for the nobility of [[Europe]].  Portions of the castle were rebuilt and decorated to make Schloss Sigmaringen into a destination of the rich and powerful.  In 1855 the walls of the upper story were removed to create the '''Old German Hall''' (German:''Altdeutschen Saal'').  In 1864 he modified the arches above the southern curtain wall to form the '''Weapons Room''' (German: ''Waffenhalle'').  From 1862 until 1867 he built the new '''Art Gallery''' (German: ''Kunsthalle''), which is today a museum.  As a member of the German high nobility, Karl Anton needed a centerpiece of his elegant castle.  To create this, in 1872 he had the [[Paris]]ian [[architect]] Lambert rebuild the dining hall into the '''French Hall''' (German: Französische Saal).  In 1877 he expanded the central [[keep]], removed the old roof and topped the keep with a new pointed roof.  In the following year, the '''Ancestors' Hall''' (German: ''Ahnensaal'') was rebuilt.
+Karl Anton built the castle into a meeting point for the nobility of [[Europe]].  Portions of the castle were rebuilt and decorated to make Schloss Sigmaringen into a destination of the rich and powerful.  In 1855 the walls of the upper story were removed to create the '''Old German Hall''' (German:''Altdeutschen Saal'').  In 1864 he modified the arches above the southern curtain wall to form the '''Weapons Room''' (German: ''Waffenhalle'').  From 1862 until 1867 he built the new '''Art Gallery''' (German: ''Kunsthalle''), which is today a museum.  As a member of the German high nobility, Karl Anton needed a centerpiece of his elegant castle.  To create this, in 1872 he had the [[Paris]]ian [[architect]] Lambert rebuild the dining hall into the '''French Hall''' (German: Französische Saal).  In 1877 he expanded the central [[keep]], removed the old roof and topped the keep with a new pointed roof.  In the following year, the '''Ancestors' Hall''' (German: ''Ahnensaal'') was rebuilt<ref name="Sig History">.
 [[Image:Sigmaringen-schloss-2004.jpg|thumb|right|The French Hall (German: Der Französische Saal), used as a dining room]]
@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 [[Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern|Leopold]] (1835-1905), the son of Karl Anton, was offered the [[Spanish monarchy|Spanish crown]] after the [[Glorious Revolution (Spain)|Spanish Revolution of 1868]] overthrew Queen [[Isabella II of Spain|Isabella II]].  He was supported by the [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussian]] [[Prime Minister]] [[Otto von Bismarck]], but opposed by the [[France|French]] emperor [[Napoleon III]]. Leopold was forced to decline the offer, but the extra demands made by the French government and the sending of the [[Ems Dispatch|Ems Telegram]] resulted in the [[Franco-Prussian War]] of 1870–71, which led to the fall of emperor Napoleon III and the setting up of the [[French Third Republic]].  Following the war and the death of Karl Anton, he ruled as prince of the Houses of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern from 1885 until his death in 1905.
-In 1893 the eastern wing burned and was nearly totally destroyed.  Starting in 1895, the construction manager Johannes de Pay and the [[Munich]] architect [[Emanuel von Seidl]] rebuilt the destroyed section.  In 1899 and 1906, other sections of th castle were redone in the eclectic style (a combination of [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]], [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] and mostly [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] styles) that was common at the time.  The '''Portuguese Gallery''' (German: ''Portugiesische Galerie'') was built during this reconstruction.  The construction continued under Leopold's son, [[Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern|Wilhelm]] (1864-1927) who was prince of the Houses of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern from 1905 until 1927.
+In 1893 the eastern wing burned and was nearly totally destroyed<ref name="Sig History">.  Starting in 1895, the construction manager Johannes de Pay and the [[Munich]] architect [[Emanuel von Seidl]] rebuilt the destroyed section.  In 1899 and 1906, other sections of th castle were redone in the eclectic style (a combination of [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]], [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] and mostly [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] styles) that was common at the time.  The '''Portuguese Gallery''' (German: ''Portugiesische Galerie'') was built during this reconstruction<ref name="Sig History">.  The construction continued under Leopold's son, [[Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern|Wilhelm]] (1864-1927) who was prince of the Houses of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern from 1905 until 1927.
 [[Image:Sigmaringen schloss.jpg|thumb|left|[[Photochrom]] print (color photo lithograph) of Schloss Sigmaringen from 1890 to 1905]]