Recens, et Accuratissima Urbis Salisburgensis Delineatio

Late 16th century view of the Austrian city of Salzburg.

This beautiful aerial perspective of Salzburg was originally published around 1588 in Cologne as part of Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg’s influential Civitates Orbis Terrarum (Cities of the World). The impressive medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress sits atop a large hill and dominates the surrounding region. Nearly forty different structures are identified throughout the image and labeled in the key (lower left). The River Salzach, full of trading vessels, can be seen running in the foreground, along with several well-dressed individuals (presumably members of the Hapsburg nobility or successful merchants).

Salzburg (literally salt castle in English) derived its name from the salt barges that would ply the waterway beginning during the Roman era. The Civitates Orbis Terrarum was an incredible work of Renaissance-era scholarship first published in six volumes between 1572 and 1617. Its 350+ views and engravings, most accompanied by author commentary, offer fascinating insight into contemporary geographic knowledge, cultural perspectives, and political organization.

This particular view was largely outdated by the time of publication, having appeared as early as 1553 in Munster’s Cosmographia and the map of Austria in Ortelius’s Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.