The Cathedral
As you approach Albi, the rewarding sight of the immense red-pink bricked Cathédrale Sainte Cécile comes into view. Dominating the skyline, its stern exterior giving no hint to the stunning interior, a cornucopia of Gothic art at its most flamboyant. Features to look out for inside are its choir, statuary and fabulous wall frescos.
Toulouse-Lautrec
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born in Albi in 1864 into one of the most prestigious families of the southwest, the Counts of Toulouse. He lived in the area until 1881 when he moved to Paris and began to paint the decadent but harsh reality of life in Montmartre. At the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, housed in the beautiful Palais de la Berbie, formerly the bishop’s palace, Over 1000 items are on show, including work by various other artists. Adults and children alike love this museum, and afterwards you can stroll in the adjoining gardens which have a fantastic view of the river.
Albi by boat or train
As an alternative to exploring on foot, you could take a boat trip on one of the traditional flat-bottomed barges, called ‘gabarres’, which were originally used to transport goods. Or, if you have young children, you may like to hop aboard ‘Le Baladin’, a little road train that takes you through the lesser known parts of the old town.
