Sigmaringen, District capital in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Sigmaringen is a district capital in Baden-Württemberg that sits along the Danube and is crowned by a castle on a steep limestone cliff. The old town lies by the riverbank, while newer residential areas spread across the surrounding hills.
The first mention dates from 1077, when a fortress was built here that later became the seat of the princes of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. After the princely rule ended, the territory joined Prussia in 1850.
The name derives from a Germanic word meaning settlement, and today the place serves as an administrative center where local markets and festivals regularly take place in the central square. Visitors see a small town where traditional crafts and regional food remain part of everyday life.
The place is easy to explore on foot, as the main points of interest lie within a manageable area along the river. For visitors with limited mobility, walking in the flat town center is straightforward, while the climb up to the castle is steeper.
The castle housed the French exile government under Marshal Pétain for several months in 1944, where it conducted its final official acts. Rooms from this period are now part of the tour through the historical chambers.
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