UNESCO Episcopal City
An exceptional heritage site
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2010, the Episcopal City of Albi comprises a complete ensemble of buildings constructed from local brick, representative of this type of urban development in Europe, spanning from the Middle Ages to the modern and contemporary periods. This defensive and spiritually significant construction was built by Roman Catholic bishops following the eradication of the Albigensian or Cathar heresy in the 13th century. The Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, in the Southern Gothic style, and the Episcopal Palace are its most emblematic symbols.
The episcopal city, a group of 4 districts
Occupying part of the city's historic center, the site covers an area of 19 hectares and extends across four medieval districts:
- le castelviel, near the cathedral, has small squares surrounded by medieval half-timbered houses and sunrooms under the roofs.
- Beyond Rue Sainte Cécile, the castelnau It offers its wide and straight streets, typical of the modern constructions of the city in the 12th century. One of its emblems, the house of Vieil Alby, near the rue Toulouse-Lautrec, houses the headquarters of the Albi heritage association.
- Combining Romanesque and Gothic architecture and built as early as the 11th century, the town Saint-Salvi, includes the collegiate church and the Saint-Salvi cloister.
- The valleys and banks of the Tarn dominated by the Old BridgeBuilt around 1035-1040, this structure contributed to the city's commercial expansion during the Middle Ages and was an important defensive asset, particularly during the Hundred Years' War in the 100th century. It is one of the oldest bridges in France.
The listed site also includes all monuments and houses located within this perimeter.
