Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Albi

After a bottle of wine, I was slowly walking home through Albi. It was pretty dark. I was remembering the movie "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" when I saw this glowing millinery shop. So the title changed to "Night in Albi: Secret of the Milliner". But that is another movie.

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. I had been in Albi many times before, but in 2017 I stayed in the "Ibis Styles" hotel the first time. I was lucky that I could book the same room in the high rising building I had before. There is an incredible view, so I took photos - again. The "Place Jean Jaurès". The "Caisse d'Epargne" in the silence of an early summer morning. Only the fountain created a noise.

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. After Albingensian Crusade Bishop Bernard de Castanet, who as well was the Chief Inquisitor, ordered the building of the cathedral of Sainte-Cécile in 1282. This cathedral, built from red bricks, is a massive statement of power. It is one of the largest brick buildings in the world. I had been in Albi many times before, but in 2017 I stayed in the "Ibis Styles" hotel the first time. I was lucky that I could book the same room in the high rising building I had before. There is an incredible view, so I took photos - again. Early morning.

Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, was born near Albi in 1741. Louis XVI appointed him to lead an expedition around the world. It was planned, to complete the Pacific discoveries of James Cook. Lapérouse´s ships were the "L'Astrolabe" and the "La Boussole". There was a 220-men-crew. One young man, who had applied for the voyage was 16-years-old Napoléon Bonaparte. He was not chosen and so stayed in France. The ships left Brest in 1785 and it was expected to see them back again in 1789, but both ships had been wrecked on Vanikoro Island in 1788. The fate of them was unknown upto 1826, when cannonballs, anchors and other evidence of the remains of ships were found in the reefs of Vanikoro. Some of these remains are kept in the Lapérouse-Museum in Albi. www.laperouse-france.fr/ "Landfalls", is a very entertaining novel, written by Naomi J. Williams. It´s fictional, but very "near" to the existing sources. naomijwilliams.com/publications/landfalls/

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. After Albingensian Crusade Bishop Bernard de Castanet, who as well was the Chief Inquisitor, ordered the building of the cathedral of Sainte-Cécile in 1282. This cathedral, built from red bricks, is a massive statement of power. It is one of the largest brick buildings in the world. I had been in Albi many times before, but in 2017 I stayed in the "Ibis Styles" hotel the first time. I was lucky that I could book the same room in the high rising building I had before. There is an incredible view, so I took photos - again. Late afternoon.

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. After Albingensian Crusade Bishop Bernard de Castanet, who as well was the Chief Inquisitor, ordered the building of the cathedral of Sainte-Cécile in 1282. This cathedral, built from red bricks, is a massive statement of power. It is one of the largest brick buildings in the world. I had been in Albi a couple of times before, but for the first time I stayed in the Ibis Styles hotel. I had choosen the highrising building, as I knew I would be able to see the cathedral from my room in the morning, in the afternoon and even late at night, when this photo was taken.

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. After Albingensian Crusade Bishop Bernard de Castanet, who as well was the Chief Inquisitor, ordered the building of the cathedral of Sainte-Cécile in 1282. This cathedral, built from red bricks, is a massive statement of power. It is one of the largest brick buildings in the world. I had been in Albi a couple of times before, but for the first time I stayed at the Ibis Styles hotel. I had choosen the highrising building, as I knew I would be able to see the cathedral from my room in the morning, in the afternoon and even late at night. So this photo was taken just after sunset.

The restaurant "La Viguière d'Alby" offers a nice, shady patio, where the guests gourmandise in the evening. Green salad and salmon - first course...

The summer is really hot in Southern France. So there are fountains to cool down in the early evening.

The summer is really hot in Southern France. So there are fountains to cool down in the early evening.

Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, was born near Albi in 1741. Louis XVI appointed him to lead an expedition around the world. It was planned, to complete the Pacific discoveries of James Cook. Lapérouse´s ships were the "L'Astrolabe" and the "La Boussole". There was a 220-men-crew. One young man, who had applied for the voyage was 16-years-old Napoléon Bonaparte. He was not chosen and so stayed in France. The ships left Brest in 1785 and it was expected to see them back again in 1789, but both ships had been wrecked on Vanikoro Island in 1788. The fate of them was unknown upto 1826, when cannonballs, anchors and other evidence of the remains of ships were found in the reefs of Vanikoro. Some of these remains are kept in the Lapérouse-Museum, located near the Pont Vieux. www.laperouse-france.fr/ "Landfalls", is a very entertaining novel, written by Naomi J. Williams. It´s fictional, but very "near" to the existing sources. naomijwilliams.com/publications/landfalls/

The church of the fromer collegiate is older than the neighbouring cathedral. The former cloister is like an oasis between the houses. One side of the cloister still exists and is used as a pedestrian shortcut between two roads. The capitals of the cloister are very weathered. here are - on the left - people in chains.

The church of the fromer collegiate is older than the neighbouring cathedral. The former cloister is like an oasis between the houses. One side of the cloister still exists and is used as a pedestrian shortcut between two roads. The capitals of the cloister are very weathered.

The more and the longer I have travelled (with limited baggage!) - the more I loved launderettes. This one in Albi had a very clean and nearly irresistible smell.

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. After Albigensian Crusade Bishop Bernard de Castanet, who as well was the Chief Inquisitor, ordered the building of the cathedral of Sainte-Cécile in 1282. This cathedral, built from red bricks, is a massive statement of power. It is one of the largest brick buildings in the world. I had been in Albi a couple of times, so I´ll not add more details of the cathedral´s exterior. The cathedral has no portal on the west side. I learned, that the former Cathar quarters were mainly in that direction, so people from there, did not deserve a portal. The architecture of the cathedral is a kind of propaganda against the heretics. The paintings seen below the organ (1736, Christophe Moucherel) depict the Last Judgement. They were painted 1474-1484 and have really horrifying details of physical torture in hell. They remind me on works of Hieronymus Bosch.

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. After Albigensian Crusade Bishop Bernard de Castanet, who as well was the Chief Inquisitor, ordered the building of the cathedral of Sainte-Cécile in 1282. This cathedral, built from red bricks, is a massive statement of power. It is one of the largest brick buildings in the world. I had been in Albi a couple of times, so I´ll not add more details of the cathedral´s exterior. Seen here is the nave, facing west. The cathedral has no portal on the west side. I learned, that the former Cathar quarters were mainly in that direction, so people from there, did not deserve a portal. The architecture of the cathedral is a kind of propaganda against the heretics. The paintings seen below the organ (1736, Christophe Moucherel) have really horrifying details of physical torture in hell.

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. When, just after the Crusade, Durand de Beaucaire was bishop here, the erection of this fortress and the donjon started. The fortress, what was meant to be the episcopal palace, was enlarged and furher fortified even by his successors. Obviously the Catholic administration did not really feel safe and comfortable in that time. Later, the bishops transformed the structure into a stately palace with Baroque gardens, overlooking the river Tarn. Since the 1920s the Palais de la Berbie hosts the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864 – 1901) was born in Albi.

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. After Albigensian Crusade Bishop Bernard de Castanet, who as well was the Chief Inquisitor, ordered the building of the cathedral of Sainte-Cécile in 1282. This cathedral, built from red bricks, is a massive statement of power. It is one of the largest brick buildings in the world. I had been in Albi a couple of times, but for the first time I stayed at the Ibis Styles hotel. I had choosen the highrising building, as I knew I would be able to see the cathedral from my room in the morning, in the afternoon and even late at night.