Helsheborch [on sheet with] Lunden [and] Elbogen [and] Landeskron. (Helsingborg, Lund, Malmö, Landskrona)

Four bird's-eye views of Swedish towns by Braun and Hogenberg : Helsingborg, Lund, Malmö and Landskrona.

HELSINGBORG with COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "Helsingborg, a coastal city in the province of Scania in Denmark, with a high castle, [...] lies on the eastern shore of the sea, just as Helsingor together with the royal and magnificent castle of Kronborg is situated on its west coast. [...] In the middle of Helsinborg is a church dedicated to Our Lady, which is not quite as splendid because it is built only of brick, but it is wonderfully big and high."

This view towards the northeast in cavalier perspective shows the harbour town situated at the narrowest point of the Öresund, which developed under the protection of the fortress built in 1150. This castle was extended up to the 14th century and became one of the strongest fortresses in northern Europe. On the site of an earlier Romanesque church, the church of St Mary was built in the 15th century as a three-nave Gothic "pseudobasilica" in the heart of the city, at the time one of the biggest churches in Denmark. The importance of the city declined after the more modern castle of Kronborg was built on the other side of the sound in the 15th and 16th centuries. After a chequered history, Helsingborg now belongs to Sweden, which it has done since 1719.

LUND with COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "Lunden was once the seat of an archbishopric [...]. But nothing can be found in the histories to tell us when and by whom it was built. Those who believe that it was founded by the English seem to have let themselves be deceived by the sound of the name, which this city shares with Lunden, the capital of England. For the Germans call both cities Lunden. But the Danes call this city Lunde, which in Danish means forest or wood.".

This view towards the south in cavalier perspective shows the small, unfortified town of Lund, which is dominated by the cathedral with its towers. At times there were 27 churches and monasteries in and around Lund. But the town was also important as a centre for merchants and artisans. It developed out of a Viking settlement and was made an episcopal see in 1060. With the Reformation and the loss of the archbishopric the city rapidly declined, and the founding of the university in 1666 did little to change this. Only in the 20th century did the Swedish city of Lund develop into one of the most important university towns in Scandinavia.

MALMÖ with COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "Elbogen is one of Scania's youngest cities, since it was built only around 1320 [...]. Nevertheless it is now practically the capital of Scania due to the trade, which over the years has made it famous, after fish were caught in great abundance, and the city of Lund began to lose its old reputation. The inhabitants call this city Malmö, but the Germans insist in calling it Elbogen, because of its shape, which is reminiscent of an elbow."

This view in cavalier perspective from the east shows the city fortified with an earthen rampart and moat. Malmö is first documented in 1275. Unlike the other cities on the sound, which were planned from the beginning, Malmö literally evolved into a trade centre. The beach served as a harbour for the flat-bottomed merchant ships in the busy strait. At the beginning of the 14th century construction began on the Gothic parish church of St Peter. Malmö became prosperous through trade and was granted a municipal charter in 1353. Erik of Pomerania built a castle in the east of the aspiring city in 1434.

LANDSKRONA with COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "Landskrona is also a harbour town; it lies about one and a half German miles south of Helsingborg. Originally it was built by King Erik VIII of Denmark in 1413 at a place where there was already a village. It was called Säbysondre, that is, village in the south, which is why there is a street with this name in the town today, which the inhabitants call Säby Street."

This is a view towards the west of Landskrona, a town on the Öresund, which has the only natural harbour on the west coast of Scania. In 1410 a monastery was built there by the Carmelites, who were called into the country by the Nordic Union. By 1413 the town had grown to such an extent that it was granted a municipal charter. Landskrona needed strong fortifications, for from the end of the 14th century the Öresund was a highly contested strait. In 1549 Christian III built a citadel here, which can be seen on the right.

More about Frans Hogenberg. [+]

More about Braun and Hogenberg, Civitatus [+]

Reference: Van der Krogt 4, #1765; Fauser, #5258, #8115, #8393, #7251; Taschen, Br. Hog., p.306.