Chris Goes to Albi

Albi, which is north of Toulouse, was an early center of Catharism, and in fact, the whole Albegnsian Crusade was named after the town of Albi. Once it was all over, the Catholic Church wanted to make sure that the people of Albi knew who was in charge, in order to make sure that no one else got any ideas about starting a new heresy. So they built what has got to be one of the most impressive cathedrals in the entire world. It is like a fortress on the outside and it is incredibly beautiful on the inside. They even have a gigantic mural by the famous painter Heironomoyus Bosch on one wall. The cathedral would definitely make me think about not starting a heresy.

Here is the cathedral from the outside. let me tell you, it is solid. The thing is more like a castle stronghold than a place of worship. It is also really, really large.

Here are some detail pictures of the entryway.

Here is a picture of the mazelike streets of old Albi. We got lost a number of times trying to find a hotel, and then trying to get back to our car to get our luggage, and then trying to get back to the hotel with our luggage, and then again trying to find a place to eat.

This is a fountain on the Place de Vignons.

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