Albi is an open-air museum! Founded in antiquity, Albi was the stronghold of the Trencavel lords in the Middle Ages, and later of Catharism. It was during the Renaissance that the town became rich thanks to the cultivation of woad. Picturesque and fascinating, the town rises in the heart of a breathtaking natural setting, standing out from the horizon thanks to the red of its facades. A UNESCO-listed former episcopal city, Albi shines in many respects: exceptional gastronomy, a gentle way of life, a wide range of activities... But Albi's greatest asset is its heritage! The Red City is dominated by the splendid Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, a marvellous representative of the region's distinctive Southern Gothic architecture and the largest brick cathedral in the world. It majestically overlooks the city's pedestrian streets, the banks of the nearby Tarn and the terraces of its generous restaurants. During your stay in Albi, discover the Palais de la Berbie, with its gardens, and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum, which retraces the entire oeuvre of the Albi-born artist, from his first composition on horses to his last painting, Un examen à la faculté de Paris, including major works such as Au salon de la rue des Moulins. The collegiate church of Saint-Salvi, with its cloister, is Albi's oldest church, built in honor of Saint Salvi, the first bishop of Albi in the 6th century. The overall construction is a blend of stone and brick. Albi has another important museum: the Musée Lapérouse. It houses the collection of 18th-century explorer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse. The collections provide an overview of knowledge of the world before Lapérouse, right up to the navigator Cook, and after Lapérouse. The town also boasts a number of more modern churches and chapels. Stroll through the many green spaces, such as the Square Lapérouse, the Jardin National, the gardens of the Palais de la Berbie and the Parc Rochegude. You're in for a real treat! To recharge your batteries, you can count on the Episcopal city's gourmet addresses, most of which focus on local produce and specialties. Critically acclaimed and supported by the locals, they unveil astonishing flavors from appetizer to dessert. All the more reason to make a stopover in this majestic and worthwhile city.
