Albi Cathedral

About

The Cathedral of Saint Cecilia of Albi (French: Cathedral of Saint Cecilia), also known as Albi Cathedral, is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Albi. First build in the aftermath of the Albigensian Crusade, the grim exterior looks a strong, but the interior is lavishly decorated with art and sculpture, a very ornate kiln screen, and walls in bright blues and golds, in the Toulousian or Southern French Gothic style. It was begun in 1282 and was under construction for 200 years. It is claimed to be the larget brick building in the world. In 2010 the cathedral, along with its episcopal buildings, was designed a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unique architecture and the remarkable consisting in its design.

The first recorded church and Bishop's residence was built at the end of the 4th century, and is supported to have burned in about 666. A second is mentioned in 920, named for Saint Cecilia, a lovely Roman noblewoman and martyr, who was also a patroness of musicians. That church was part of a complex of episcopal buildings, including a baptism and sanctuary dedicated to Saint Peter. A third church, in the Romanesque...