Contrafehtung der Statt Louven [Leuven, Belgium]

The historic Belgian university town of Leuven.

This interesting woodcut view of the city of Leuven 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, the largest in Flemish Brabant, is shown in some detail, with 18 different locations of interest identified. Descriptive text below the image offers a brief political history, including the founding of the University of Leuven in 1422.

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.