Rotomagus, vulgo Roan, Normandiae Metropolis [on sheet with] Nemavsus, Nismes, Civitas Narbonensie Galliae Vetustissima [and] Civitas Burdegalensis in Aquitanea, Genuina Descrip.

Three very desirable and early town-views of Rouen, Nîmes and Bordeaux.

Montpellier: With key to locations. In his brief description of the city, Braun focuses primarily upon the university founded by Pope Nicholas IV in 1289. He makes no mention, on the other hand, of the church of Notre-Dame-des-Tables, which is recognizable by its tall spire. The church has been a stopping point since the Middle Ages for pilgrims on their way to Santiago di Compostella.

Rouan: The city's favorable position between the Seine to the south and the hills in the north is clearly illustrated in this view, which is seen from the east from an ideal hill and which also shows the intact city walls from the Roman era. The staffage emphasizes the course taken by the road from Paris leading into the city.

Nîmes: was a flourishing settlement even in Celtic times and due to its favorable location on the Via Domitia, a major transportation route linking Italy and Spain, was developed into the capital of Narbonensis province. Amongst other things, it was given a 7-km-long city wall and the dominant Tour Magne watchtower (top center). Also stemming from Roman times is the imposing Amphitheatre (left), which could seat some 23,000 spectators and is used for performances even today. Its façade, comprising two story's, each with 60 arches, is clearly recognizable, even in foreshortening. Above the cathedral and clock tower lies the Maison Carrée, a Roman temple built by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa around 19 B.C. The 49-m-high Pont du Gard aqueduct, mentioned by Braun and visible top right, is an important work of Roman civil engineering.

Bordeaux : shown on a smaller scale to the right of the château du Hâ is the Gothic cathedral of Saint-André with its free-standing clock tower, the Tour Pey-Berland. Outside the city walls lie the ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre. . (Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.64.)

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)