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France Albi

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  • Frankreich 2024
    Day 19

    Albi - die Kathedrale

    September 9, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Ich denke, ihr habt verstanden, dass ich mir sehr gerne Kirchen anschaue. Manche lohnen sich, manche weniger. Auf dieser Fahrt haben wir ein paar tolle Kirchen gesehen, aber die Kathedrale von Albi schlägt alle um Längen! Und bisher war ich oft enttäuscht, wenn die Kirchenfenster (vor allem von gotischen Kathedralen) nicht alt und/oder bunt waren. Diese Kathedrale braucht keine bunten Fenster!
    Sie ist innen an den Wänden und an der Decke kunstvoll bemalt. Einige gemalten Bordüren wirken sehr plastisch so dass man dreimal hinschauen muss, um zu erkennen, dass es gemalt ist.
    Diese Kirche ist einfach nur wow!!! Selten eine so schöne Kathedrale gesehen. Ich liebe ja unseren Dom aber innen kann der nicht mithalten. Von außen ist diese Kathedrale auch sehr interessant. Von außen ein echtes Bollwerk mit einem viereckigen Turm vorne, dafür an der Seite ein gotisch-verspielter Eingang mit Treppe.
    Das ganze hat ein einziges Manko: um sich den Chor mit Hochaltar anschauen zu können (dieser ist wie in der Kirche in St.-Bertrand ziemlich abgeschlossen und von aussen nicht einsehbar) muss man Eintritt zahlen. Dafür waren wir diesmal echt zu kniestig.    Read more

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  • Auf nach Marokko
    Day 94–96

    Albi

    May 6 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Albi, am Fluss Tarn, der voller rötlich-braunem Schwemmmaterial war, haben wir als sehr schöne Kleinstadt mit toller Altstadt erlebt. Besonders beeindruckend war die riesige, wehrhafte Kathedrale. Sie zeigt die unerfreuliche Machtdemonstration der Katholischen Kirche, deren Inquisition die Katharer( oder Albi-genser) in dieser Region als Religion völlig ausgerottet haben.Read more

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  • TravelerEurope 2025
    11
    Day 50–51

    Albi, Home of Toulouse Lautrec

    April 15 in France ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

    We came to Albi just to see the museum of the hometown hero, Henri Toulouse Lautrec. He was born here in 1864. But we got so much more. It's yet another charming small town in France. And we had no idea that the Cathedral is a UNESCO world heritage site. It was amazing, and that's saying something from someone who is "churched out."

    The Musée Toulouse-Lautrec included mostly early works that his mother collected and saved. It was nice seeing his style progress to what he became famous for. The building itself was fantastic, a former Bishop's palace from the middle ages.

    There was no mention of the genocide of the Cathars, the plans of which probably originated in these walls. The Cathars were a Christan sect deemed heretics in the middle ages. They lived throughout Occitania, this southern region of France. Historians think about one million were tortured and killed.

    But enough of the fun stuff! The town today is clean and friendly, with lots of pedestrian streets. It's on the river Tarn and there's an old bridge that only pedestrians use now. Many of the older buildings are made in the half-timbered style.

    For lunch, we found a local restaurant offering a plat de jour. Fantastic meals for two that we couldn't finish cost less than $40 without wine. Mine included 3 types of seafood in a wine sauce, and a delicious appetizer of an Arancini in a mushroom duxelle (mince). I discovered Arancinis in Sicily, where they are from. They're deep fried rice balls stuffed with the chef's choice. They're absolutely delicious and gluten free.

    One night wasn't really enough but we did see the major sights. Bordeaux beckons!

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZKi339AFbEkhZL4b7    Read more

  • Van-Motorradtour Frankreich
    Day 18

    Der Tarn läßt uns nicht los

    September 20, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Unsere Route führt uns heute wieder an den Tarn und hier nach Brousse-le-Château, das zu den schönsten Dörfern Frankreichs (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France) zählt . Die mittelalterliche Befestigungsanlage steht auf einem Felsvorsprung mit Blick auf den Zusammenfluss von Tarn und Alrance. Auf der Seite zum Dorf ist die Burgmauer von sechs Türmen flankiert. Die steinernde Bogenbrücke über die Alrance sowie die Kirche Église Saint-Jaques-Majeur sind französisches Kulturdenkmal. Dann steuern wir den nächsten Supermarkt an. Auch hier gibt es an der Käsetheke die diversen Roquefort-Sorten. Durch hügelige Landschaft gelangen wir am frühen Abend nach Albi. Diese aus Backstein und Stein errichtete Bischofsstadt gehört zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe. Aus der Luft haben wir sie heute noch gesehen, morgen werden wir sie zu Fuß erkunden.Read more

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  • Frankreich 2024
    Day 19

    eine der schönsten Städte Frankreichs

    September 9, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Wir haben bereits einige schöne Dörfer und Städte in Frankreich gesehen, aber bisher kommt kaum ein Ort an Albi heran (und das trotz Regen!)
    Rote Backsteinbauten oft mit Fachwerk oder Holzverzierungen sowie hellgrauen Holzschlagläden, schmale Gassen und sehr, sehr viel Flair!
    Neben der Kathedrale (die kommt separat) der Palast Berbie, der heute auch das Museum Toulouse-Lautrec beherbergt mit einem schönen Garten (mittlerweile ohne Regen).    Read more

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  • TravelerTranter's European Tour 2024
    2
    Day 22–23

    Albi

    May 28, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We found a well positioned Aire in Albi which was perfect for exploring the city. We are not a fan of big cities but Albi has a beautiful centre with a huge cathedral with a very impressive tower and lots of architecture everywhere we looked.Read more

  • TravelerEurope 2023
    12
    Day 14

    Fabulous Fine Dining

    September 27, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    When we were making our way to our hotel yesterday Ian spotted a sign to a restaurant that caught his attention. He took note and later googled the restaurant, La Table du Sommelier, and it received very good reviews so we booked a table.

    The restaurant was about a 5 minute walk from our hotel and it did not disappoint. We sat on their covered terrace and chose a fixed menu - entree, main and dessert. We chose a local Gaillac wine (Red) to accompany our meal and it was fabulous.

    For dinner Ian and Brigitte had the prawns wrapped in brick pastry with salad and I chose the steak tartare. Both entrees were excellent, in fact the steak tartare was the best I have ever had.

    For mains Ian and Brigitte chose the veal and I chose the fish. Again, the quality of the meals was excellent.

    For dessert Ian chose an Apricot concoction and Brigitte and I chose a raspberry and chocolate creation. Both desserts were sublime.

    We finished with an espresso which was very good. The quality of the coffee in France seems to have improved since last year.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope 2023
    2
    Day 14

    Cathedrale Sainte-Cécile

    September 27, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Upon completion of the food tour with Nastia we thought we should visit Albi’s Cathedral Sainte-Cecile. As previously mentioned, it is the largest brick Cathedral in the world. With it’s close proximity to the river it meant there was plenty of sand, rock and water to make the bricks.

    It is similar in its form and the simplicity of its lines to the Gothic churches of the Toulouse region, but exceeds them in size and in the line of its harmoniously distributed buttresses. On the southern side, its fortress-like appearance is softened by the Dominique de Florence doorway and by the four-poster porch, a masterpiece of flamboyant Gothic art. There is also a massive blind bell tower which is 78 metres high, underscoring the cathedral-fortress appearance of the building. Construction began in the 1200s, but there have been additions to the structure in the 1400’s and 1500’s.

    The exterior of this building is very plain and more resembles a fortress than a cathedral, but the interior is lavishly decorated with art and sculpture. It has a very ornate choir screen, and walls in bright blues and golds, in line with the Southern French Gothic style. Construction began in 1282 and continued for 200 years. Bernard de Castanet, who became Bishop of Albi in 1276, was the key figure behind the construction of this Gothic cathedral.    Read more

  • TravelerSICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
    1
    Day 44

    Last night in Albi

    June 26, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    So this afternoon I ventured out to get my nails done and it was fine (although not as good as lovely Antoinette on Hutt Street). Tried a lovely blue colour! Then we walked out to explore some of the newer parts of the city and saw a great statue of local hero, Laperouse and the war memorial and then spent some time looking for a new light top for me - it's getting warmer and warmer! Eventually we stopped for a drink in the main square. The 'pichet' of rose ordered was bad so we sent it back and settled for a slightly better 'blanc' and ran across the road for a bag of chips! We decided this is typical of eating in the main touristy spots - not as good and more expensive! We then went for a quick look at the Saint Salvi church whose bells we have been hearing regularly from our airbnb each day. Dinner in with the leftovers and we have been happy to do this for a change. Tomorrow is our next big adventure - long drive to Uzes where we are staying for 10 days. Looking forward to a more relaxed time!Read more

  • TravelerFrance2023
    2
    Day 10

    From Lyon to Albi

    June 20, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    We left our apartment a little before 11 this morning, so a fairly leisurely start to the day. An easy time navigating the Lyon Metro was too good to be true. We picked up lunch at the gare and waited for our departure platform to be announced. Got on the train early enough to have an easy place to put our luggage, and then we waited. And waited. Apparently, there was a mechanical problem that caused us to be at least 30 minutes late pulling out. Not normally a problem but we only had 15 minutes scheduled to make our connection. Luckily they made up some time between Lyon and Toulouse that we were able to make our connection.
    The scenery changed a lot as we traveled down the mountainous Côtes du Rhône, through the Mediterranean coastline, then back into the hilly Occitanie. Our apartment owner kindly picked us up and brought us to the apartment in the old town, just steps away from the cathedral. All the outside photos are taken from the apartment windows.    Read more

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