Ancestral seat of the Princes of Hohenzollern on a limestone cliff above the Danube – state rooms, a great armory hall and guided tours through 950 years of aristocratic history.
Special exhibition
2026 summer exhibition by Princess Katharina of Hohenzollern on the golden wedding anniversary of Prince Karl Anton and Princess Josephine in 1884, including lavish congratulatory addresses; part of the castle tour. Dates have not been published.
Perched on a limestone cliff above the Danube, Sigmaringen castle is first mentioned in 1077, when King Henry IV stopped here during the Investiture Controversy. The oldest surviving parts – gate, palas and keep – date from the Hohenstaufen period around 1200. In the 15th century the Counts of Werdenberg expanded the fortress into a residence, and in 1535 it passed to the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen line. Under master builder Hans Alberthal, a large part of the complex was built in the Renaissance style between 1627 and 1630; around 1650 Michael Beer joined the separate buildings into a single, enclosed palace.
In the 19th century Prince Karl Anton made the castle a meeting place of Europe's high nobility. In 1864 he had the armory hall set up, and in 1867 he opened his art collections to the public in a purpose-built gallery building; guided tours have been offered at the castle since 1871. Although the principality passed to Prussia in 1849, the castle remained in the family's possession – a family that, through dynastic ties, also occupied the Romanian throne.
A major fire destroyed large parts of the complex in 1893. During reconstruction, Munich architect Emanuel von Seidl and court architect Johannes de Pay shaped its present appearance in the Historicist style; in 1907 the Portuguese Gallery was completed as a ballroom. In 1944/45 the castle served as the seat of the French Vichy government in exile.
Today it is the residence and administrative seat of the princely House of Hohenzollern and a major visitor attraction: guided tours and audio tours show state rooms such as the Hall of Ancestors and the Portuguese Gallery as well as one of the largest private arms collections in Europe; summer exhibitions from the princely collections regularly add to the tour.
| Adults | €15 |
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| Reduced | €13University students and holders of a severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis) |
| Children & teens | €7Children and teens aged 4 to 17 €7; no price is listed for children under 4. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €13Reduced with a severe disability ID; companion (“B” marker) pays €7. |
| Students & apprentices | €13Discount for university students. |
| Groups | –Groups of more than 10 book a separate guided tour via the group inquiry; prices on request, payment on the day of the visit, free cancellation up to 5 working days in advance. |
| Families | €40Family ticket for 2 adults and 2 to 4 children. |
Same prices for the guided visit (castle with 60-minute guided tour, armory hall with audio guide) and the audio tour or children's audio tour. Online booking recommended. Vouchers from partners (including AlbCard, Bodenseecard, Schlemmerblock) can only be redeemed at the castle ticket desk.
The castle sits high on a cliff; according to the operator, a visit with a wheelchair or rollator is not possible, and it may be strenuous for visitors with limited mobility. Assistance dogs allowed; small dogs and cats only in a closed carrier, larger animals not allowed.
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | €40 · Family ticket for 2 adults and 2 to 4 children. |
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Children's audio tour (German only); family ticket for two adults with two to four children. Bookable for families: the puzzle tour “Das Geheimnis der sieben Zeichen” (The Secret of the Seven Signs), as well as castle tours for children's and school groups. The castle stands on a cliff; a visit with a wheelchair or rollator is not possible.
Sigmaringen station, then about 5–10 minutes on foot through the old town.
For groups, the castle refers to the Hohenzollernschloss bus parking lot (directions link on the website); the castle gives no information on car parking.
For GPS: Karl-Anton-Platz 8, 72488 Sigmaringen.
Get directionsThe Schlosscafé is rented out for small receptions; the website does not say whether it is regularly open to individual visitors. The operator recommends, among others, the brewpub “Zum Marstall” in the princely stables and the Karls Hotel within sight of the castle.
Up to 200 guests.
Available for rent: the Portuguese Gallery (ballroom, up to 200 people theater-style or 100 at banquet tables, with stage and grand piano, May–September only), the Leopoldsaal (up to 60), the Lakaienhalle (up to 60) and the Schlosscafé (up to 50 standing; half day €250, full day €500). Private celebrations such as wedding parties or birthdays are not possible; civil and non-religious wedding ceremonies in the Leopoldsaal (package up to 30 guests €919.70, up to 50 guests €1,019.70; room rental only €400).
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
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| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, FR, IT, ES, NL, RU, RO) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Self-guided visits with an audio guide at any time; guided tours (60 minutes, including the armory hall with audio guide) at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00; from November 10 to January 6 only at 10:00 and 14:00. |
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