Albi

A red-brick town with the world's largest brick cathedral

The Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile looks like a fortress from the outside but is painted all over inside, with a 15th-century Last Judgement. Toulouse-Lautrec was born here – the museum with the world's largest collection of his work is in the bishop's palace. An hour from Toulouse.

The history of the Cathars

The crusaders called the Cathars Albigensians after Albi, and the war became known as the Albigensian Crusade. The fortress-like Cathedral of Sainte-Cécile was built from 1282 by the bishop and inquisitor Bernard de Castanet – as a reminder of the Church's power.

UNESCO World Heritage

Episcopal City of Albi

World Heritage since: 2010

The old town on the River Tarn is built of red brick. In its midst rises the Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile, the world's largest brick building, built like a fortress after the Cathar wars, and next to it stands the bishop's palace, the Palais de la Berbie, with the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum.

Visit: See the cathedral and the Pont Vieux from across the river in the evening light. The cathedral interior is painted all over and free to see; the choir costs a small fee.

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43.9286° N, 2.1428° E

Albi

The history of the Cathars

UNESCO World Heritage

Episcopal City of Albi

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