Cathédrale Ste-Cécile, Albi
Albi Cathedral is a fortress in Cathar Country. Photo
Nathalie.
The largest brick building in the world. Photo
fdecomite.
The hefty brick choir on the east end. Photo
Pierangelo Rosati.
Interior, with fantastical decoration. Photo
Kafeole.
Painted vault. Photo
le méchant garçon.
Detail of Last Judgment painting. Photo
Adam Baker.
Wall paintings at entrance to Treasury. Photo
Adam Baker.The Gothic Cathédrale Ste-Cécile of Albi, built in the 13th century in the heart of Cathar country, is the largest brick building in the world. Perched high on a hill, it looks more like a fortress than a cathedral - and that's no accident.
History
Fortified with ramparts and parapets, construction on Ste-Cecile Cathedral began in 1282 by the lord-bishop of Albi. It was built as a defensive fortress and statement of strength after the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229), waged by the Catholic Church against the Cathars and the count of Toulouse. Construction on the cathedral was not fully completed until 1480.
What to See
Notable exterior features of Albi's Cathedral include the rich portal of Dominique de Florence (c.1392), the 78-meter-tall dungeon tower (finished in 1492)), and the baldaquin of the entryway (1515-1540).
Based on its sober, fortress-like exterior, one might reasonably expect the interior of Ste-Cecile to to be correspondingly austere, plain, and practical. Yet Ste-Cecile Cathedral is filled with religious art, including glorious frescoes, paintings and sculptures. The contrast between the sober simplicity of Ste-Cecile's exterior and the sumptuous decoration and detail inside is one of the most remarkable features.
The huge (16.4m x 15.6m) mural of The Last Judgment, painted between 1474 and 1484 by unknown Flemish artists, is one of the the most important works of art of the later Middle Ages. Paradise is represented by angels, apostles, and believers. Earth, represented by a frenetic gesturing of the Infidels, occupies but a small part in the whole. In the lower portion, hell is depicted as a series of views of the Mortal Sins. An astonishing collection of demons, imps, and supplicants, à la Hieronymus Bosch, are also present.
Also exceptional is the 16th-century rood screen with its unique polychromatic statues from the Old and New Testaments. The statuary of Sainte Cécile is considered to be the most important ensemble French sculpture from the Middle Ages. The naturalness of the colors and postures of the statuary has been universally admired for centuries.
The vast ensemble consists of 33 characters from the Old Testament; 15 statues representing the Church (12 apostles, the Virgin, Jean the Baptist, and St. Paul); and 72 statues of angels, Charlemagne, and the Emperor Constantine, dominating the two entry doors.
The frescoes on the cathedral's arched ceiling form the largest (97 meters long by 28 meters wide) work of Italian Renaissance painting to be found anywhere in France. Louis II d'Amboise commissioned the confection of the arched ceiling of Sainte Cécile to a team of Italian painters brought in from Modena and Bologna. The work was carried out between 1509 and 1512.
The arches of the Cathedral are conceived as a backdrop of immense blue sky on which several motifs are developped: arabesques, candelabras, and pastoral scenes. From Adam and Eve to the Annunciation, all the characters of the Old and New Testaments are represented. Two sections are dedicated to Sainte Cécile, patronne Saint of the Cathedral.
Finally, the classical French organ, built by Christophe Moucherel in 1736 is considered one of the three finest in France.
Opposite the north side of the cathedral is the Palais de la Berbie (Archbishop's Palace), another fortified structure dating from the late 13th century.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Cathédrale Ste-Cécile; Albi Cathedral |
| Type of site: | Cathedral |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Status: | Active |
| Date: | 1282-1480 |
| Architecture: | Gothic |
| Location: | Near Place du Vigan, Albi, Midi-Pyrenees, France |
| Phone: | 05-63-43-23-43 |
| By rail: | 15 trains per day link Toulouse with Albi (1 hr.). There's also a Paris-Albi night train. |
| By road: | From Toulouse, take N88 northeast. |
| Hours: | June-Oct daily 8:30am-6:45pm; Nov-May daily 9am-noon and 2-6:30pm |
| Cost: | Cathedral 2€; treasury 4€ adults, 3€ ages 12-25, free for ages 11 and under |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Albi Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our France Map or get our free Google Earth download.
More Information
- Cathédrale Ste-Cécile - Frommer's Attraction Review
- Cathédrale Ste-Cécile - Architecture Religieuse en Occident
- Albi Cathedral - Structurae
