Albi is the capital of the Tarn department, Languedoc. It is located on a hill above the Tarn River, west of Toulouse.
The history of the city is closely linked to the history of Christianity. The heretical teaching known in Europe as the Cathar heresy is also called the Albigensian heresy, i.e., the heresy of the Albi region. To suppress this heresy, the Pope organized a crusade in 1209 (see Cathar castles).
A distinctive feature of the city’s architecture is the pink brick from which most buildings are constructed.
The jewel of Albi, and indeed of all France, is the Gothic Cathedral dedicated to St. Cecilia. This is a fortress cathedral: its harsh exterior resembles more of a feudal castle than a church, while the interior is adorned with fairy-tale decorations from the Renaissance period. The richest frescoes and mosaics are breathtaking, and the sculpture is so exquisite and perfect that it is hard to believe in its reality.
Next to the Cathedral is the Palais de la Berbie – the former residence of the archbishop, part of the palace is now allocated for the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum.
Albi is the birthplace of the artist whose paintings adorn many museums around the world today, and posters and advertising placards from music halls are still sold at all the antiquarian stalls in Paris. The museum dedicated to Toulouse-Lautrec houses the richest collection of the artist’s paintings, representing all periods of the painter’s work, as well as books illustrated by Lautrec and his personal belongings. Among them is the artist’s “clever” cane with a miniature glass and a brandy flask cleverly built into it.
The city itself is small and very picturesque. The view of the cathedral and the medieval city from the opposite bank of the river is especially beautiful.
