Albi straddles the River Tarn. The whole city is built of a pastel red brick.
The skyline and the countryside for miles around are dominated by the Cathedral and it's next door neighbour the former Bishop's Palace. From a distance they both look more like grain silos, than religious buildings.
The former Bishop's Palace now houses a museum dedicated to the local boy made good Toulouse-Lautrec. His father was Count Toulose-Lautrec and Albi was close to one of the families main and favourite estates. We take the audio guide through the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum and discover there is a lot to know and like about the little man most noted for drawing and painting Parisian cabaret performers and prostitutes.
His paintings in real life, particularly his portraiture and equestrian paintings, are fabulous. The museum also has a vast collection of his posters, which are as impressive as his painting.
Albi's Cathedral is dedicated to St. Cecile. The exterior is very plain and blocky, apart from the ornate work around the main entry. Inside is a different story.
The walls and ceiling are covered in murals a la Sistine Chapel.
The carving in stone of the Choir Screen is as beautiful as it is masterly.
Then there is the tomb of St Cecile. A more delicate and human tomb we have not seen. Most tombs in Cathedrals for a start are dedicated to men, Bishops, Kings, Knights etc., lying on their backs, with their “tools of trade” staring heavenward. St Cecil looks like she has just fallen gently asleep. She looks so kind, gentle and feminine. When we first saw her lying there it took our breath away.
