Welcome to Albi, to the sunny south of France, between mountains and the river Tarn.
The Cathedral of Sainte Cecile
The Basilica of Sainte Cecile dominates Albi's skyline with an awe-inspiring presence.
Built by Christian loyalists as a defense against the Cathare Heresy starting in the 13th century, the cathedral is a masterpiece of meridional gothic architecture. One can easily see that she was originally intended to be a fortress.
The Cathedral took two centuries to build -- from 1282 to 1480.
She is one of the most visited edifices in France.
She is the largest brick building in the world.
The Toulouse-Lautrec Museum
Nowhere else in the world can one enjoy the richest and most varied collection of the works of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, born in Albi in 1864.
Thanks to the generous donation of his works from the artist's parents to the city of Albi, the visitor is able to fully trace the evolution of the painter's career, from his early works to the later masterpieces.
Henri Toulouse-Lautrec left Albi in 1883 to live in Montmartre in Paris. Many of the most famous of his works were painted during this period; the portraits and scenes from café-concerts, cabarets, and maisons closes.
The renowned Salon de la Rue des Moulins and the equally famous portraits of actors and actrices of the times include those of Jeanne Granier, Berthe Bady, Romain Coolus, etc. are on display at the Museum.
The artist is also known for his lithographs and the 31 cabaret posters that made him famous during his lifetime.
The Palais of the Berbie
During the Middle Ages, the eveques of the French Midi built a large number of palace-fortresses throughout the region. Few, if any, are as impressive as the Episcopal Palace of Albi.
Now known by the name the Palais de la Berbie (from the Occitan word, bisbia, for 'eveque'). The oldest sections of this monument date back to the 13th century.
Along with the Palais des Papes in Avignon, the Berbie is one of the most completely restored fortresses in France.
With its 4 meter thick walls, the Magne Tower, its dungeons, and enclosed fortified courtyard, one quickly gathers what the word 'fortress' is all about.
