Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

180 BACK ROADS FRANCE

VISITING ALBI 1 Albi
Tarn, Midi-Pyrénées; 81000
Tourist Information
Palais de La Berbie, Place Sainte-Cécile; Most visitors come to Albi to see two sights: the massive cathedral
05 63 36 36 00; www.albi-tourisme.fr and the episcopal palace that now houses a museum dedicated
Parking to the artist Toulouse-Lautrec, who was born in the city. The rest of
Park at the Parking de la Cathédrale the city centre is a com pact laby rinth of narrow streets on which
next to the Boulevard du Général Sibille. stand many 15th- and 16th-century man sions.
WHERE TO STAY A 90-minute walking tour right along Rue Mariès and fork right
Start from the Parking de la Cathédrale along Rue Timbal. The Pharmacie des
ALBI next to the Boulevard du Général Pénitents 4 on the right has a magnif-
Hostellerie du Grand Saint Antoine Sibille. Turn right into the Rue de la icent 16th-century façade of criss-
moderate–expensive Maîtrise to find the gates of the 13th- cross tim bering and brick. Further up
This hotel was founded in 1734 on the century Palais de la Berbie 1, the the street, on the left, is the Hôtel de
site of a monastery. former bishops’ castle-palace. This Reynès 5, a Renaissance mansion
17 rue St-Antoine, 81000; 05 63 54 04
04; www.hotel-saint-antoine-albi.com building now houses the Musée of brick and stone. At the end of Rue
Toulouse-Lautrec (open daily Apr–Sep, Timbal turn right along the Place du
CORDESSURCIEL Wed–Mon Oct–Mar), an outstanding Vigan and right again down Rue de
Au Nid d’Ange moderate collection of the artist’s work. Go l’Hôtel de Ville, which runs past the
In the heart of the medieval city, this around the building and down the Hôtel de Ville 6, made up of two
18th-century house offers bed-and- steps to see the formal gardens 17th-century mansions. Turn left into
breakfast accommodation with spacious which give views over the Tarn, then the Rue de Saunal to come to a cross-
rooms and modern bathrooms.
2 rue du Planol, Cordes-sur-Ciel, 81170; return to the Rue de la Maîtrise. roads where the Rue Sainte-Cécile
05 63 56 99 34 Now walk up Rue des Fargues and meets the Rue de Verdusse. Turn left
turn left along Rue de la Souque and and almost immediately right into the
Below Market hall in Cordes-sur-Ciel turn right past the Hôtel de Gorsse 2 Rue Toulouse-Lautrec. The artist was
(not open to the public), one of a
number of private mansions built in Toulouse-Lautrec
the city during the 15th and 16th Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was
centuries. Go around the covered born into a noble Albi family in
market, a reconstruc ted version of 1864. Afflicted by a bone disease,
the 1900s original, along the Rue des he was unable to live the life of a
Foissants and Rue Saint-Julien. Turn country squire and was drawn
left up Rue Sainte-Cécile and left to instead to art. After his death in
go around the Romanesque and 1901, his mother offered his works
to the Louvre but they were refused
Gothic La Collégiale Saint-Salvy 3.
and so the collec tion came to be
The southern gallery of its 13th-
installed in Albi.
century cloister is still standing. Turn
0 metres 100
RUE DE LA SOUQUE Gorsse RUE DE LA BON N E CAMBE
0 yards 100 Hôtel de RUE STETIENNE
RUE DE LA BUADE
Formal
Gardens RUE EMILE GRAND
Palais de Covered RUE DES FOISSANT S RUE DE RHÔNEL
la Berbie RUE DES FARGUES Market RUE STECLAIRE
Rue de la Maîtrise RUE CANDEIL
RUE SAINTJ ULIEN
Cathédrale RUE AUGUSTIN MALROUX
Sainte-Cécile
PLACE RUE MARIÈS
SAINTECÉCILE Pharmacie
La Collégiale des Pénitents
Saint-Salvy L YCÉE GE ORG E S POM P ID OU
RUE CAMINADE
RUE DE LA PIALE RUE PEYROLIÈRE RUE TIMBAL Hôtel de
RUE DES PRÊTRES RUE DE LA CROIX BLANCHE RUE DE L’OULMET RUE DU PUITS DE LA GRÂCE RUE DES PÉNITENTS RUE D’EMPEYRALOTS Reynès
RUE SAINTECÉCILE
Maison du
Vieil Alby
Hôtel de Ville
VIGAN
RUE ST CLAIR RUE DE SAUNAL RUE ROQUELAURE RUE DE L’HÔTEL DE VILLE PLACE DU
BLVD DU GÉNÉRAL SIBILLE
RUE P BÉRENGUIER
Hôtel du RUE DE VERDUSSE RUE DES NOBLES RUE DE L’O RT EN SALVY
Bosc RUE TOULOUSELAUTREC
BLVD DU GÉNÉRAL SIBILLE
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €70; moderate, €70–€150; expensive, over €150