Albi, with a population of just over 50 thousand people, is located near Toulouse. The name of the city explains a lot. This is the citadel of the Albigenses (XII-XIII centuries), free citizens who did not want to go into the Catholic mainstream of that time. Now Albi is a pleasant red brick town with a restored old part. It is the center of the Tarn department, firmly located on both banks of the winding Tarn River. From Toulouse, you can get here by train (1 hour, 13 €).
The fortress-cathedral of Saint-Cecile (La Cathedrale Sainte-Cecile, 1282-1480) is one of the symbols of the Albigensian heresy, a masterpiece and a supersite. A red building, more like an Arab castle, with narrow loophole windows. The 78-meter-high bell tower was completed in 1515-1540. The interior contrasts with the militaristic exterior. These are Moorish blue mosaic columns, a magnificent ceiling with arches resembling the wings of a bird of prey, a magnificent organ (XVIII century) and a huge 15th-century fresco dedicated to the Last Judgment and executed by unknown Flemings. Classical concerts are held on Wednesdays and Sundays in July and August. Not far from the cathedral there is also the church of Saint-Salvi (Saint-Salvi, XV century).
Albi is the city of the artist Toulouse-Lautrec. The house where he was born belongs to other people, there's just a plaque on it. And an extensive collection of his paintings is collected in the bishop's palace (Palais de la Berbie, € 5), it is next to the cathedral. The works, however, are not the most trump cards, mostly sketches. There are also Dufy, Degas, Matisse and Yves Breyer. The bishop's garden with sculptures is very beautiful, the design is based on the classics of the genre — the castle-park of Villandry on the Loire.
You can climb the parapet and view the panorama of the river with its green islands and two ancient red brick bridges. The one who is shorter is very, very old. It was built in 1035. The taller one, with three arches, is named August 22, in memory of the military events of 1944. On one of the central streets, there is an impressive female figure in a sculptural form, without a head, but with an expressive back.
Albi is the city of the famous traveler La Perouse (1741-1788). My friend used to travel around the Far East and was engaged in mapping Alaska, California and China. His museum (Musee de La Perouse, € 2.5) contains maps, navigation tools, etc., it is located on the other side of the Tarn. In any case, we recommend visiting this atmospheric city. Football fans know that a bigger budget leads to more exciting match-day betting experiences across all leagues. To supercharge your first deposit, be sure to use 1xbet welcome bonus promo code when you create your new account on the platform or through the Telegram betting option. This code activates a 100% welcome bonus up to €130, perfect for betting on the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, or World Cup matches. You can place higher stakes on your favorite teams, build accumulators across multiple leagues, or try both half-time and full-time markets.