Hailbrunna. Reutlinga. Mulhusium [Heilbronn, Reutlingen and Mulhouse/Alsace.]

An original antique copper engraving from the rare 6th part of Latin ed. of G. Braun's and F. Hogenberg's "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published by A. Hierat in Cologne, 1617/18. 3 city views printed from one plate.
- This view comes from the sixth and last volume of 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum' ("Theatri Praecipuarum Totius Mundi Urbivm Liber Sextus"), published in a much smaller edition than previous volumes, and it is therefore rarer than most of Braun & Hogenberg city views.

HEILBRONN. COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "Several are of the opinion that the name of this city is really Heldenbrunn, but others call it Hellbrunn, because of the healthy and healing water that is found here. It grew from a village into a town and was surrounded with walls in the year 1082 or, as claimed by some, in the year 1285 and was granted a municipal charter by Emperor Frederick II."
This is a view from the west over the Neckar of the fortified city centre with the larger-than-life-size church of St Kilian. To the northwest of it on the marketplace is the town hall with the famous ornate clock by Isaak Habrecht of Strasbourg.
The city is surrounded by orchards and vegetable gardens, fields and vineyards. Today very few of Heilbronn's historic buildings are still standing, for the Old Town was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War.

MULHOUSE IN ALSACE. COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "As far as this city is concerned, it is very well fortified and protected by nature and its surroundings as well as by thick walls, ditches and similar constructions, in particular there are four moats and over each a bridge that must be crossed before one can enter the city. The soil in the surrounding countryside produces corn and wine and all kinds of fruit in great abundance."
This view from the west from a slightly raised position shows the city behind its four moats. The late Romanesque church of St Stephen dates from the 12th century. In the background the Vosges Mountains can be seen. Mulhouse was once a Free Imperial City, and for a long time was associated with the Old Swiss Confederacy.
REUTLINGEN. COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "The position of this city is ideal for various industries, there are numerous mills and a great deal of paper is made and exported far and wide. The city has engaged in many battles with the Counts and Dukes of Württemberg, and although it has often suffered no little damage, it has not only defended and safeguarded it liberties and rights with the aid of its allies and neighbouring cities, but has also soundly defeated the enemy more than once."
This view from the southwest shows a well-fortified city, behind which vineyards and the dominant cone-shaped Achalm Hill with the imperial castle can be seen. Reutlingen, which was granted a municipal charter in 1209, became an important centre of trade and craft industries, including book printing. During a period of great prosperity (13th-14th cent.), the magnificent Gothic church of St Mary was built, a proud symbol of the status or Reutlingen was involved in various armed conflicts during the 16th century.

Braun G. & Hogenberg F. and the Civitates Orbis Terrarum. 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, 1754; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.454.