Albi

The city of Albi is dominated by the massive Saint Cecilia’s Cathedral. At first glance, the cathedral looks more like a fortress than a cathedral due to its massiveness. There is a reason for this extraordinary appearance. The region was the scene of a bloody revolt by a Christian heretic group called the Cathars in the 13th century. The cathedral was built to symbolise the definitive victory of the Catholic Church over the Cathars. In spite of the bloody history, I was genuinely impressed by the formidable structure and beautiful interior. If I had to choose the most beautiful cathedral in France, this could be it!

The rest of Albi is just as lovely, with its medieval core completely intact.

In Albi, one finds a conspicuous presence of Japanese tourists… And they are there to pay respect to Albi’s most famous son: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Toulouse-Lautrec is perhaps best known for his Moulin Rouge posters and his appreciation of Japanese wood prints. The museum dedicated to his life and works, the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, is now housed in the former Bishop’s residences, the Bernie Palace. It is a fairly big museum, and you can easily spend 3 hours browsing through the impressive collection.