Travel writers through the ages
21.07.2023 - 08:46
/ roughguides.com
Here at Rough Guides, we’re known for our “tell it like it is” ethos, which – coupled with our in-depth knowledge of destinations, reliability, attention to detail and resourcefulness – results in the best guidebooks out there. (We’re not biased.) The current coronavirus situation means we can’t get out there researching at the moment, so we’ve instead decided to take a look back at the wealth of travel writing from the Middle Ages to see whether any of these historical authors would have what it takes to join the Rough Guides team. We’ll be considering big names in the medieval travel industry, like Marco Polo, and more obscure applicants such as Simon of St Quentin. Let’s find out who’s in with a shot!
Let’s start out by ruling out a few contenders who aren’t likely to make the cut. The first of these is Matthew Paris, a St Albans monk who’s known primarily for his Chronica Majora – a history of the world from Creation until 1259, the year of Matthew’s death. Despite his focus on history, Matthew did indulge in a spot of travel every now and again, notably on one occasion in 1247 when he visited Bergen in Norway to attend the coronation of King Haakon IV. Unfortunately, Matthew wasn’t averse to taking freebies – Haakon gave him “rich and royal presents” – in return for positive coverage. This, coupled with Matthew’s rather virulent hatred of anyone who wasn’t English, means that we won’t be progressing his application any further.
Matthew Paris © Wikimedia Commons/public domain
Visitors to today’s Bergen are unlikely to witness any royal coronations, but the Bryggen part of town retains a medieval vibe, perhaps similar to the city as Matthew would have experienced it. Bergen is also an excellent jumping off point for hiking trips in Norway’s fjords.
Historical buildings in Bryggen — Hanseatic wharf in Bergen, Norway © Nataliia Sokolovska/Shutterstock
The Dominican friar Simon of St Quentin also won’t be working for Rough Guides any time soon. In 1245 he travelled to Sisian in Armenia to convey a message from the Pope to the Mongol army, who had recently invaded the region. Much of Simon’s account of his journey has been lost, suggesting he may be a little unreliable at meeting publishing deadlines, and what remains implies a closed-minded attitude and considerable inflexibility in getting along with the locals – he described his hosts as “evil”, “obstinate” and “increasingly insane”. His writing also lacks any practical details about where to stay, what to eat, or information on the local attractions. We’re therefore pretty confident in concluding that Simon doesn’t have the necessary skills or temperament to join the team.
There are generally no Mongol army encampments at Sisian nowadays, but the town