Gouvernement de La Guienne & Gascogne

A nice example of Blaeu’s beautiful map of southwestern France, including Bordeaux.

This copperplate engraved map covers the old French ‘governments’ (a unit of political organization) of Guienne and Gascony. Though the governments became obsolete after the political reorganization of the French Revolution, the region remains a historically important center of viticulture, centered on Bordeaux. The city can be seen in the upper left, near the mouth of the Garonne River. Bayonne, Toulouse, and even Pamplona, Spain are shown.

Decorative elements are also included. The large title cartouche in the lower right is flanked by two satyrs and appropriately bordered by grape vines. Groups of cherubs in the upper corners hold aloft coats of arms of various provinces that can be found in the region, though many of them remain incomplete.

This map was issued in Abraham Wolfgang’s “Atlas Minor” – a rare composite atlas composed of maps created by Blaeu, de Wit, Visscher and others.