What Münzer probably saw in Perpignan

What Münzer Probably Saw in Perpignan
Though Münzer would later climb the highest tower in key locations to "contemplate the view" as a true cartographer, he apparently did not do this in Perpignan, where his visit was rather brief. Perpignan had only recently returned to Hispanic rule under the combined realms of Fernando and Isabel in 1493--Juan II of Aragon had previously ceded it to the Kingdom of France several decades before in exchange for aid in his civil war against the Catalans (and Münzer erroneously reports the change in regime to 1492). He does not mention, nor would he have been able to enter, the big Fortress of the Kings of Mallorca built under Jaume II, which was now a defensive bastion against French attack, though its fortified profile dominates the medieval city.

What he did remark on was the relative flatness of Perpignan, which made it fertile, and the fact that it was surrounded on three sides by mountains. He also discussed the
richness of local produce, and the cloth industry.

He also talked about the church of Santa Maria, still under construction. Here we reached a bit of an impasse: there were two churches dedicated to the Virgin, a smaller chapel Nostra Senyora dels Angels, formerly part of a Franciscan convent (and now a museum), and Santa Maria la Real, the parish church for the fortress. Most of the late medieval construction in Perpignan dates from its heyday in the 14th century, and we were unable, on an admittedly short visit, to determine when the vaulting on its 14th century churches, Saint John the Baptist, Saint James, the chapel of Nostra Senyora dels Angels, and Santa Maria la Real were completed. Santa Maria del Real has been given a 19th century facelift (including the nave vaults that Münzer mentions), though its basic plan is Catalan Gothic, and it is this church that we have elected to show here with all its modernization.

In spite of the fact that the garden and grape vines that we show here were from just a bit further south, crop layouts and the products haven't changed much, so we show them here.

The pictures, top to bottom: Grapevines (1) Santa Maria la Real, plan (actually a modern fire-exit map) (2 and 3) Grapevines and a garden near Perpignan; (4)Santa Maria la Real Interior; (5) Street market with peaches and apricots; (5) A view of Perpignan with surrounding mountains from a tower of the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca.