Saltzburgk Recens, et accuratissima urbis Salisburgensis delineatio.[Salzburg]

A fine copper engraved birds-eye/panoramic view of Salzburg by Braun and Hogenberg, with key to locations, with a total of five fittings cartouches, in the foreground a group of traditional costumes. From: 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum. - Urbium Praeciuarum Totius Mundi Liber Tertius'. Cologne.
CARTOUCHE RIGHT: A new and faithful view of the city of Salzburg. COMMENTRARY BY BRAUN: "Salzburg is an exceedingly impressive city in Bavaria, encircled by substantial ring walls, towers and bastions, and very well appointed with both public and private houses. Salzburg was formerly a royal seat and during this time furnished its churches very splendidly with marble and thus distinguished itself far above other cities.
When Julius Caesar wished to defeat the Germans, he had a fortified castle built on top of the mountain that was to serve as a base for his soldiers and from which he wished to assist his allies. Hence this castle was named Castrum Juvaviense, in German Helfenburg."
This second engraving of Salzburg in the 'Civitates' goes back to the same original as the first one. 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.
The magnificent cathedral (15) seen here at the centre of the city dates from the time of Bishop Conrad III. 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.
The engraving is made after a drawing by an unknown artist, 1553, which was used both for the woodcut in Münster's 'Cosmographia' and the map of Austria in Ortelius's 'Theatrum orbis terrarum'(Taschen).

The 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', or the "Braun & Hogenberg", is a six-volume town atlas and the greatest book of town views and plans ever published: 363 engravings, sometimes beautifully colored. It was one of the best-selling works in the last quarter of the 16th century. Georg Braun wrote the text accompanying the plans and views on the verso. A large number of the plates were engraved after the original drawings of Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600), who was a professional artist.
The first volume was published in Latin in 1572, the sixth volume in 1617. Frans Hogenberg created the tables for volumes I through IV, and Simon van den Neuwel created those for volumes V and VI. Other contributors were cartographer Daniel Freese, and Heinrich Rantzau. Works by Jacob van Deventer, Sebastian Münster, and Johannes Stumpf were also used. Translations appeared in German and French.

Reference: Van der Krogt 4, 3831; Fauser, 12385; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.252.