Hand Colored 1636 Print, Map of Milhau, from 'Les plans et profils de toutes les principales villes et lieux considerables de France'

A 7 x 9 3/4 sheet professionally matted down to 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 (mat measures 8 1/2 x 10 5/8). Beautiful modern hand coloring added. Labeled 40 in the upper right-hand corner. Milhau (also Millau or Milhaud) is a region in south central France. The print shows a large fortification positioned at the intersection of numerous roads, on the south side of a large natural waterway. Though several roads terminate at the curtain wall, only one appears to offer entry, that being along the south wall - this gate leads to a small settlement outside the fortress. The surrounding area appears to be evenly divided farmland, woodlands and plains. The shapes of the walls illustrate the star-shaped patterns common to this era, an adaptation made to allow for defensive canonry, and to protect against siege artillery.