What's it all about, Albi?

Good afternoon and welcome to the city of Albi, a UNESCO World heritage site since 2010 and birthplace of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. ( since 1864)

It's home the the outrageously huge Cathedral of St.Cecilia, built over 2 centuries (yes, it's THAT big) and currently claiming to be the largest brick built cathedral in the world. (I believe I've already mentioned its size)

Not terribly pretty from the outside, resembling a corrugated cardboard fortress such as the Blue Peter team might make, but in brick. (Well, it did to me anyway)

Closer to, and most definitely on the inside, it's a very different story:

The Cathedral houses various 'treasures' (their word, not mine), including a relic of its namesake  St. Cecilia, patron saint of music. The patron saint bit isn't relevant,  but I like to flash my  religious studies 'O' level (grade c) whenever possible.

Well, who wouldn't?

Incidentally, and possibly predictably, given that there was an entrance fee to view the treasures, we declined.

We did however stump up the fee to visit the Toulouse Lautrec museum (pun intended)

Housed in a former bishop's palace, it contains many of the vertically challenged artists best known works.

I have to say that if he'd spent less time gawping at mucky women, he might have been taller.......

He wore glasses too......