1574 Die Statt Heidelberg

This large woodblock engraved birds-eye view of the German City of Heidelberg was published in the 1574 edition of Sebastian Münster’s Cosmographia.  The view is a fascinating scene from the late 16th century, with many of its  landmarks extant today including the largest cathedral, the Church of the Holy Spirit, (Heiliggeistkirche) built between the end of the 14th century and beginning of the 16th, along with the older St. Peter’s Cathedral, mentioned as early as the late 11th century. The two are easily recognizable not far from the banks of the Neckar River, which runs through the city. The city and its environs boast many medieval buildings, among its most ancient being the remains of a Celtic fortress with its place of worship, along with vestiges of a later Roman presence in the region. The map we offer could be used today for locating many landmark architectural edifices which are still in use. The open areas on hillsides are a valid representation of the flora of the day, as t