Reading old maps isn’t the easiest of things, but at least you stand a fair chance of finding your way around them if you know the general layout of the place they cover.
Now, I don’t know anything about medieval Vienna, and have been endeavouring to find my way around it. In detail. So I need a map that will show me everything. A tall order? No, for I found the 360 degree panoramic view of the city shown above. And yes, the writing moves around with the degrees, and the buildings lie down and fan out too. You can zoom into the map quite well here.
Well, this sort of thing is guaranteed to befuddle my grey cells. Believe me, no sooner have I ventured in close to really examine it all, than I’m so confused I haven’t a clue where I am. Nothing seems to show me which way is north, and the circular layout bit is torture. I certainly don’t know what the Danube was up to back then, beyond that it was a mass of channels, small islands and shifting islets – as you can see on the map.
So then I find another view of the city that is indeed detailed and horizontal, and has an index of numbers so I can identify what I’m looking for. You can see it below and here. It isn’t medieval, but not too far on from there, and yes, old Vienna does indeed seem to have been virtually a circle.
Bingo, I thought. This is bound to show me the building I’m looking for. All I want is one out of 56. Ah, but the trouble now is that I can only spot numbers 3, 6 and 28! I begin to think old Vienna doesn’t want me poking my nose into its secrets.
Later. When I’d recovered my aplomb sufficiently to have another go at the second view, I found the number I wanted! Yes, I can now safely identify the building I’m looking for. Phew. And yes too, it is indicated on the Meldeman map, I was just too disoriented to see it!
Oh for medieval satnav!
murreyandblue 