Moguntia, Germaniae Metropolis, ... [on sheet with] Herbipolis, comuniter Wirtzburg, ... [and] Sedunum, primaria & Metropolitica . . .

Three very desirable and early town-views of Mainz, Würzburg and Sion (Sitten).
"MAINZ : "The view of Mainz is seen from the Mainspitze, one of the loviest spots at the confluence of the Main and the Rhine. The city skyline is dominated by towers and steeples. Mainz's important Roman heritage from its 2,000-year-old past as Mogontiacum, a Roman legionary base, is not illustrated. Instead we are shown the well-fortified city wall, whose towers - which include the Holzturm, Fischturm and Eisenturm fronting the Rhine - establish an interesting architectural contrast with the church spires. Lying close together in the city center are the Liebfrauenkirche, the Romanesque St Martin's cathedral and to its right St John's church. Beside the Rhine on the far right is the bishop's house, or Martinsburg. . ." (Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.100.)

WÜRZBURG : "Würzburg is seen in cavalier perspective and is depicted so accurately that the streets of the present-day Old Town can be recognized without difficulty. The district on the far side of the Main is seen in side view. Würzburg's most famous landmark is the Marienberg fortress (Unser Frawenberg) on the hill of the same name, which served as the residence of the prince-bishops from 1253 to 1720.
In a straight line below the old Main bridge is the Romanesque St Kilian's cathedral (Thum stifft), to the right of which is the Neumünster with its two choirs, and diagonally above the Gothic St Mary's chapel (Unser Frawyn Kapel) on Unterer Markt square. In the 16th century Würzburg formed a major commercial hub within the Main-Franconia region. It is clear from both Braun's text and the engraving that the city's most important export was wine. . . .". (Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.100.)

SION (SITTEN) : "The view of Sion is incorrectly drawn in terms of perspective. The skyline is dominated by the two mountains with the castles of Majoria and Valeria. On the right-hand summit lies the basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Valà¨re, which houses the oldest playable organ in the world, dating from the 15th century. As Braun notes, the highly valuable spice saffron was cultivated in the region around Sion in the Valais. The city's history was shaped by the bishopric that was founded here in the 6th century AD and by Sion's position as capital of the Swiss canton of Valais..." . (Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.100.)

From volume one of the greatest publication in this genre!. The Civitates was compiled and written by George Braun, Canon of Cologne Cathedral. Braun gathered together vast amounts of information and draft plans to produce over 500 city views/maps published in six parts between 1572 and 1617. Most of these engravings were made by Simon Novellanus and Frans Hogenberg, many after drawings by Joris Hoefnagel.
Read more about the Civitates Orbis.

Reference: Koeman (1967-70) B & H 1-5, NMM III, i, 459 (1573-1618 ed.), Introduction', in: G. Braun and F. Hogenberg, Civitates orbis terrarum (Amsterdam: 1965). (2)