Von dem Teutschen Landt. / Kempten mit ihrer Abcontrafehtung.

Title

Von dem Teutschen Landt. / Kempten mit ihrer Abcontrafehtung.

General view of Kempten in the year 1569 in Swabia. Below with city index, in the sky three coat of arms representations and a title banner. Woodcut by Gregorius Sickinger, signed with G S. in the bottom left. Back side with German text.

ca. 1574

Artist

Münster (1489-1552)

Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) was a leading Renaissance cosmographer. His most famous work, the Cosmographia (1544), was a comprehensive description of the world with 24 maps, based on research dating back to 1528. Continuously revised, the 1550 edition already included many new maps. It was the first scientific yet accessible world description published in German, illustrated with numerous woodcuts by artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger. Between 1544 and 1650, the Cosmographia appeared in 46 editions (27 in German) and was translated into several languages. Münster’s work combined the knowledge of scholars, artists, and travelers and remained influential long after his death.

Historical Description

Kempten is one of the oldest cities in Bavaria and has a long history that dates back to Roman times. The name Kempten likely originates from the Roman settlement "Cantabrianum". In the Middle Ages, Kempten grew into an important monastic city. In the 8th century, the Kempten Abbey was founded. Kempten was a free imperial city and, in the 13th century, gained the status of an imperial city within the Holy Roman Empire. In the 19th century, Kempten lost its religious significance due to the secularization of 1803 but experienced an economic boom, particularly due to industrialization. Today, Kempten is a modern city that has preserved its historical importance as a cultural and economic center. Some of the most famous landmarks include the Allgäu Museum, the Kempten Town Hall, and the St. Lorenz Basilica.