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THE SAINTE-CECILE CATHEDRAL OF ALBI

Best monument in town, the Sainte-Cecile cathedral is really impressive. Its bell tower (78m) overhangs the city and the region as a watchtower. The cathedral is the world's largest brick cathedral and with the Berbie Palace they represent a matchless monumental architecture of bricks.

A unique monument in the world built in brick

The Albi cathedral's construction began during the XIIIth century and lasted for about two hundred years. It is the biggest brick cathedral in the world : 113 m long, 35m wide. It surprises the tourists who often compares it to a real castle. Masterpiece of the Southern Gothic style, the Saint-Cécile cathedral is the witness of the Christianity strength after the Cathar heresy.Thanks to its entirely painted interior, the cathedral is a beautiful museum of Christian Art.

The most important pieces are:

-The Last Judgment, covering an entire wall, was painted with garish realism. The fresco represents Heaven, Earth and Hell.
-The “Jube”, a really rare rood-screen, sculpted in soft limestone and its 270 + statues made by the “Bourguignons de Cluny”
-The vault painted between 1509 and 1512 and its 30 chapels from the Renaissance form a splendid azure-coloured ceiling.
-The Great Organ Case designed by the organ-maker Christophe Moucherel is one of the most beautiful in France. Free concerts are given on Wednesdays.