Le weekend Short but sweet city breaks

Brigitte Nicolas is in awe of the history and culture Albi has to offer

- Brigitte Nicolas

I headed to Albi, Tarn, with culture in mind. This is the south-west town where artist Henri de Toulouse Lautrec was born and is full of fascinating architecture and heritage. On the itinerary was a visit to the colossal red-brick Gothic cathedral as well as the nearby village of Lautrec.

Near the edge of Albi’s spider web of cobbled roads which wind into the town center, my guesthouse had a suitably grand entrance, with heavy wooden doors, an airy hall, and a stone staircase. I loved the quirky style in my spacious room – oversized lightbulbs were set into the headboard of the low bed while a beautifully carved fireplace reflected the building's age. Gazing out the window I was delighted to see the Cathédrale Sainte-Cecile; a towering monument like this is visible from most of the town of course, but I was just a few rooftops away and almost felt like I could reach out and touch it.

Renaissance frescoes

A closer look at the cathedral was first on my sightseeing list for Saturday morning, just a short walk down the road. Inside the cathedral, the otherwise pervasive red brick is replaced with gold and blues in joyful patterns, sculptures, and frescoes that purposefully fill every single inch of the space – floor and ceiling included.