The UNESCO has selected Albi, the episcopal city in south-west France as « world heritage ». The city of Albi is an unique medieval architectural and urban ensemble. Surrounded by ancient boroughs thrones the mighty Saint-Cecile cathedral together with its neighbour, the Palais de Berbie; they overlook the river Tarn and the old bridge.
The splendid Saint-Cecile cathedral is the largest brick building in the world, built as a fortress after the Cathar heretics were crushed by the Albigensian Crusade. The cathedral was intended as a demonstration of the regained absolute power of the Catholic Church. It took 2 centuries for the cathedral to be completed (1282 to 1480). One would not expect this cathedral to be sumptuous decorated, with magnificent renaissance frescoes on the vault, produced by Italian painters. The painting of the Last Judgement (1474-1484) alone is already worth a visit to the cathedral; it houses also some of the most beautiful medieval sculptures in southern France.
Alongside the Saint-Cecile is the Palais de Berbie, formerly the bishop's palace, overlooking the river Tarn and the city of Albi. It was an imposing fortress, completed end of 13th century, ensuring that no religious movement or political power would challenge the bishop of Albi. Particularly interesting are the 50 m high keep, flanked by 4 towers, surrounded by ramparts. Later on the bishops transformed this stronghold; it became an renaissance-style residence, with terraces, a French-style gardens and an Italian-style gallery. The Palais de Berbie hosts nowadays the Toulouse-Lautrec museum. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was an impressionist painter - born in Albi – famous for its paintings and lithographs on the Paris night life at the end of the 19th century; he best-known work are the commercial posters for luxury goods. The collection of the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum is the largest in the world devoted to the painter. B & B Artichaud is a partner of the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, our customers pay a reduced entrance fee.
The old bridge over the river Tarn is 151m long and rests on 8 arches. Its construction started in 1035; it was partly financed by surrounding counties and bishoprics: the Albi bridge was an obvious passing place for those travelling between Le Puy and Toulouse (one of the three main pilgrim roads to Santiago de Compostela, the Way of St. James), or for the commerce with Italy and Spain. In the 14th century the bridge was fortified with drawbridges on each side; houses were built on the piers, and a chapel was erected in the middle of the “Albi bridge”. Up to the 18th century, the Tarn river was the regional main commercial axis: barges transported Gaillac wine, pastel and saffron.
However, Albi is more than the episcopal city alone: behind the cathedral is Castelviel, an old borough, worth strolling trough; the Saint-Salvi church encloses a beautiful small cloister and of course: the city centre is well preserved, with towers and many fine renaissance town houses, homes of the rich merchants in the pastel trade (a blue dye extracted from woad).
B&B Artichaud, located in the middle of the bastides albigeoises, is an excellent starting point for visiting Albi and the bastides albigeoises. These bastides, fortified villages from 13th and 14th century, are well preserved. They figure among the most beautiful villages in France: Cordes-sur-Ciel, Puycelsi, Bruniquel, Penne en Castelnau-de-Montmiral, our village.
You are welcome to use our documentation on the region, or on the bastides albigeoises walking trail. You will have a marvellous stay, in our quiet, charming and eco-friendly guest-house with excellent meals and excellent Gaillac wines.
Text & pictures: © Bed and Breakfast Artichaud
