Der alten und herzlichen Statt Putiers contrafactur [Poitiers, France]

16th century view of ‘The City of 100 Bell Towers.’

This interesting woodcut view of the historic French city of Poitiers was published in the second half of the 16th century, originally as part of a German edition of Sebastian Munster’s Cosmographia. The fortified town, home to the Dukes of Aquitaine, is shown in some detail, with over fifty different locations of interest identified. Many of the buildings can still be visited today, including the baptistery of Saint-Jean, the church of Notre-Dame-la-Grande, the Cathedral, University, and the Palace. Around the time of publication, the city was an occasional battleground in the ongoing French Wars of Religion.

Sebastian Munster’s Cosmographia, first published in 1544 and re-issued in numerous editions, was a revolutionary resource for understanding the world in the 16th century. Originally composed in Latin, Cosmographia covers a wide range of topics, including detailed descriptions of continents, countries, and cities, as well as information on the customs, religions, and cultures of various peoples. The work is notable for its rich collection of maps, woodcuts, and illustrations, which offer a visual representation of the geographical knowledge and artistic style of the Renaissance period. Munster drew upon a variety of sources, including classical texts, contemporary travel accounts, and reports from explorers, to compile a work that sought to educate and inform readers about the totality of the known world.