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Latest Albi hotel reviews
Pro
Wonderful city, with an impressive Cathedral and spectacular scenery!
Con
The heat in summer. :)
In a nutshell
you must visit Albi once...
kokoryko Says: “Aaaah, what a daubing!” exclaimed a woman next to me when discovering a Kandinsky in a museum in . . . . . Well, Toulouse Lautrec who, by far, is not in my painter’s pantheon, can certainly not be considered as a dauber, and I have to admit his lithographic works are very...
pigletsmom Says: You must visit the extraordinary and massive Sainte-Cécile Cathedral. It dominates the Albi skyline like a bird hovering over it's nest. It is quite impressive and dominating, and very captivating. The interior is grand and ornate, but not heavy or busy. It is just plainly...
pigletsmom Says: The Palais de la Berbie, is one of the most spectucular spots in all of Europe. I was just amazed at how lovely it is. The views and scenery, the architecture and sculputure, and of course the impeccable gardens. All together they are breathtaking. Very impressive and lovely...
Palais de la Berbie/Musée Toulouse-Lautrec
Redang Says: This Palace is even older than the Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace) in Avignon. Former the Bishops' Palace of Albi, it houses now the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum and the Tourist Office.Its name comes from the Occitan word Bisbia, meaning Bishops' Palace.For the Musée...
Cathédrale de Sainte-Cécile (1/2)
Redang Says: Some other buildings were on the site where this Cathedral was built. The first one, from the 4th century, was destroyed in 666. The next one, from 920, received the name of Saint Cécile, the patroness of musicians and was replaced in the 13th century by a Romanesque...
Study the Art of Toulouse-Lautrec
hquittner Says: Lautrec was a minor great painter, in part because he did not live very long and had an infirmity. He was primarily a sketcher with a strong lively line. He became interested in the new technic of color lithography which required him to develop a simpler "Japanese"-like...
hquittner Says: The Museum Toulouse-Lautrec is housed in the Berbie Palace (the name a corruption of the local term for a Bishop). When Bernard de Castenet started the cathedral in 1265, he altered the plans for his palace already underway to participate in the fortress function, including...
1 Review and 99 Opinions We stayed two nights at this hotel and had breakfast and dinner there each evening. It has the...
1 Review and 3 Opinions The boss is the son but the retired father seems to do anything there. He is very kind and helpful....
Instants de Délices: Wonderful Violet ice cream
kokoryko Says: I expected something violet, or purple. . . or pink. . . . The common violet (Viola odorata) you all have seen in woods or gardens exists in several varieties, some of which are used as medicinal herbs or as base for some culinary specialities; the Viola odorata var....
Market: For a wonderful picnic
kokoryko Says: For a wonderful picnic. . . . . . . . . . Buy food in the market!This time, when I passed in Albi, the market was open, and, even not busy at its fullest, there was some choice in butcheries, cheese shops, at fruit sellers stalls. . . . In Central France, if you want to go...
Redang Says: Some road distances to Albi from:- Bern (Switzerland):707 kms.- Madrid (Spain): 891 kms.- Nijmegen (Holland): 1.184 kms.- Pecs (Hungary): 1.707 kms.Checking the website, you’ll find more road distances together with the driving times and the best routes.
Walk to discover the Saint Salvy Collegial
kokoryko Says: When you walk on the great square between the Basilica and Palais de la Berbie, and look on the roofs of the old city, you will see a small crenulated circular brick tower above a square base and will be wondering what that is (picture 1). You will walk in Rue Mariès to get...
The church of Saint Salvy Collegial
kokoryko Says: After having had a general view of the church from the Place du Cloître you have to return to rue Mariès to enter the church under a double roman arch where an ugly square door frame has been added (picture 1).The building of St Salvy began in Carolingian times (8th century)...
Admire the polychrome statues in St Salvy church
kokoryko Says: Strong fragrances of incense welcome you when you enter the church, and immediately on the right side you see one of the jewel of the place! In dim light, in front of a red curtain, a group of human size statues will catch your eyes, your attention, your sensitivity. . . . ....
And other little jewels in the church
kokoryko Says: In the St Salvy church are a number of small chapels in the low sides, and there are many interesting paints, sculptures and altars to look at.Each little chapel has nice displays, so it is worth to take some time and have a look in the quiet atmosphere of this not very...
The beautiful romantic cloister of St Salvy
kokoryko Says: And last , but not the least, there is the cloister of St Salvy; a very little one, but really charming, with the small square yard, the gallery with the roman arches, the small well in the yard, the sculptures on the columns, the colonnade,. . . well, a real nice little...
kokoryko Says: There are a number of medieval roman sculptures (characters or animals) and a few gothic carvings (leaves, plants) on the capitals but also a strange sculpture group in a corner of the southern gallery (picture 1); it looks like an “Adoration”, but where is the third wise...
Redang Says: The Hôtel Reynes belongs to the period of prosperity that Albi enjoyed in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was built by Roger Reynès, a merchant prominent in the pastel trade (pastel was a blue plant dye extracted from woad).Where: Rue Timbal
Redang Says: The Pont Vieux (Old Bridge),over the Tarn river, was built in 1.039, and it is an excellent place to admire the city from.Pics:- Main: Pont du 22 Août 1944- Second: General view- Third: General view of the Cathedral and Palais de la Berbie- Fourth: Pont S.N.C.F (French...
hquittner Says: Lautrec's cane was a support for him in two ways. Firstly it was a walking stick that helped him move about on his deformed legs. Secondly, it was specially made for him at his design to contain a central glass chamber in which he carried a goodly supply of cognac for times...
Medicines, Woad , Dyestuffs and Back Again
hquittner Says: In the 15-16C , the vast majority of people were illiterate and so signs on shops were illustrative of the trade housed within. Making powders was a major part of medical compounding, hence the mortar and pestle repeatedly displayed on the ancient pharmacy sign. The...
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Plan a Albi vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Albi locals
Flamboyant gothic . . . . in fact at the southern entrance of the cathedral you can have an introduction of what is awaiting you when you will enter the...
2 members live in Albi
Q: Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone knows what a bike ride from Albi to Cordes Sur Ciel might be like. Google maps puts it at...
A: It is 25 km but D600 is a rather busy road. I would suggest you to take smaller roads that are almost parrallel to D600. That should add a few km but it will be quieter...
Read 5 Replies
1
I travel by car through central France at least twice a year, between Pau and my hidden den in the Forez and I like to change itineraries, to look at the beautiful countryside of Midi Pyrenees and...
2
Albi is a nice city some 76 kms. north east of Toulouse, and just for the Cathedral, it deserves a visit. Pics: - Main: Cathédrale de Sainte-Cécile - Second: Cathédrale de Sainte-Cécile - Third: Albi...
4
Albi is called "red" because the ancient city was built with local red bricks : the churches, the palaces and the houses. It was set up more than 3 thousands years ago and has many things to show to...
5
Almost 8C After Its Inquisition
We arrived by car from Carcassonne, via Castres (we have Tips on both). Our hotel for the two night stay was on the far bank of the Tarn overlooking the river with the stern Cathedral of St.-Cecile......
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