Nurnberga Florentissimum Germaniae Emporium, . . . [on sheet with] Ulma Imperialis in Suevia [and] Saltzburg Urbis Salisburgensis Genvina Descriptio [and] Lindaw - Lindoia, Oppidum Imperij insulare, . . .

Four very desirable and early town-plans of Nürnberg, Ulm, Salzburg and Lindau in a first state.
"NUREMBERG (NÜRNBERG) : The way the city of Nuremberg is perceived has been shaped by the showy double-sided view in Hartmann Schedel's 1493 Chronicle. Schedel presented an ideal picture of a city well fortified with a double ring wall, full of beautifully ordered patrician houses and boasting the church of St Sebald and the church of St Lawrence. The high point of all this glorious urbanity in Schedel is definitely the imperial castle looming high above the city. In his text, Braun lays emphasis on the castle, which afforded superb views. The two pictures in Braun-Hogenberg, however, are not dominated by the steeply rising fortress. (Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.90.)

ULM : "The view from Michelsberg hill shows Ulm well protected by high walls and its riverside location. The major landmarks are clearly captioned: Ulm's famous cathedral (Munster) - the largest parish church in Germany - and the Gothic town hall (Radhauss) slightly in front of it to the left can be easily identified, as can the smaller monasteries and the formidable city gates. Ulm reached its chief industries, but it also conducted a flourishing trade in iron, wine and wood. The city was also famous for its artists and craftsmen and for book printing.
The view is made after an etching by Georg Rieder the Younger, 1570.". (Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.90.)

SALZBURG : This is a highly schematic view of Salzburg from on top of Kapuzinerberg. The 11th-century fortress of Hohensalzburg, the largest castle complex in Europe, is easily recognizable in its dominant position above the city, whereas the buildings below are condensed into narrow blocks in favour of wide streets and squares. The impression of spaciousness does not correspond to the actual appearance of the city wedged between the Mönchsberg and the Kapuzinerberg. Braun refers to the legendary history of Salzburg, according to which it was founded by Julius Caesar.
Salzburg is first mentioned in records in AD 755 as a trading settlement. In 996 it was granted the right to hold a market and mint its own coins and in 1287 it received its municipal charter.
From the 16th century onwards Salzburg played an important role as a city of trade and as the residence of the prince-archbishops. Following a devastating fire in 1598, Archbishop Wolf Dietrich of Raitenau had 55 town houses demolished in order to make space for a new cathedral and a grander street plan. The new cathedral in the Baroque style continues to leave its stamp on the face of Salzburg even today". (Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.90.)

LINDAU : "A number of Lindau's historic sights are clearly recognizable in the engraving. On the left is St Stephen's church, begun in the 12th century and frequently altered, and on the right, as part of the city defenses, the "Thieves' tower" (Diebsturm) of 1380 with its four overhanging turrets. Directly to its left is St Peter's, Lindau's oldest church, which dates from the 12th century and contains valuable frescoes by Hans Holbein the Elder. Lindau goes back to a nunnery first mentioned in records in AD 822. The town was granted its charter before 1216 and from c. 1300 to 1803 was an imperial city.
The view is made after a woodcut by Jakob Clauser in Münster's Cosmographia, 1550" . (Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.90.)

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)