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Antique maps > europe > france > Antique map - bird's-eye view plan of Avignon by Braun & Hogenberg

Avignon - Braun & Hogenberg, 1575.



Antique map - bird's-eye view plan of Avignon by Braun & Hogenberg, with key to locations.

The engraving is a faithful copy of Belleforest's plan of 1575 except that the tops of each of the towers have been changed into gabled roofs by the addition of crenellation.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "Avignon is a highly famed city with a wonderful church in honour of the Virgin Mary, which enjoys many privileges. This city has a magnificent cardinals' palace and a veritable Carthusian monastery surpassing all others in France. The Roman Papacy had its seat in this city for 70 years. All around the city is good fertile soil, much silk is dyed here and there are also many paper mills due to its favourable location near the water. Not to be forgotten is the university, which flourished particularly during the time when the Pope had his seat here."

Avignon is shown from the south in a bird's-eye view that almost resembles a plan. On the other side of the Rhône lies Villeneuve, the site of the Carthusian monastery mentioned by Braun, represented together with the adjoining hills in side view. Many of Avignon's medieval structures have been preserved, such as the massive city walls. The city-scape is dominated by the Romanesque cathedral of Notre-Dame des Doms dating from the 14th century. The Saint-Bénézet bridge, which is commemorated in the traditional French song "Sur le pont d'Avignon", dates from the 12th century. The plate shows the original bridge, which was almost completely destroyed by floods in 1668. In 1309-1376 Avignon was the residence of the popes, during what is known as the Avignon exile. Up to 1797 Avignon remained in papal ownership. Silk making was an important economic activity in Avignon. Remarkable are the four windmills that can be seen on the some 60-m-high limestone bluff that rises up in the middle of the town.

Date of the first edition: 1575
Date of this map: 1575

Copper engraving
Size: 31 x 47cm (12.1 x 18.3 inches)
Verso text: Latin
Condition: Uncoloured, some browning along centrefold.
Condition Rating: A
References: Van der Krogt 4, 326; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.150.

From: Civitates Orbis Terrarum, ... Part 2: De Praecipuis, Totius Universi Urbibus, Liber Secundus. Köln, Gottfried von Kempen, 1575. (Van der Krogt 4, 41:1.2)

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Item number: 06963
Price: 320 Euro

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