The districts of Old Alby reveal their heritage, their history, their particularities during the visit: emblematic monuments, half-timbered houses, Renaissance mansions, interior courtyards, picturesque streets... Albi "la Rouge", one of the capitals of the Languedoc brick, like its neighbours, Toulouse and Montauban, will delight photo enthusiasts.
The Saint-Salvi wheel
The historic loop in the heart of the old center continues a few meters from the Sainte-Cécile cathedral towards the Saint-Salvi district and beyond towards the lists.
The Saint-Salvi district is organized around the collegiate, of the same name, dedicated to the first bishop of the city. It is also nicknamed the Saint-Salvi Wheel for the shape of its urban development. This shape appears very distinctly as soon as you gain height. The shopping streets wind all around the Saint-Salvi collegiate church.
On either side of the collegiate church and its cloister, Two main axes are organized, today two pedestrian and shopping streets:
- One joins the Place du Vigan, the urban center of the city
- The other the Cordeliers district, cultural district
Milestones
You will like to discover
Gourmet breaks around the collegiate church
The Enjalbert house
Leaving the Saint-Salvi collegiate church behind, head towards Place du Vigan. mansions mark the prosperous period that Albi experienced in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries when merchants and bourgeois grew rich thanks to the pastel trade. All these architectural riches are often hidden by simple brick walls and imposing and sumptuous portals.
discover
During the walk, you will admire :
- la Enjalbert house and its half-timbered facade and skillfully arranged brick facing
- then on the other side of Timbal Street, theReynes hotel featuring one of the most beautiful interior courtyards and beautiful mullioned windows.
- the city hall presents in particular the city's coat of arms adorning the central courtyard, and made of pebbles
Your stop now: La maison Enjalbert
- The Enjalbert house, at the corner of Rue des Pénitents and Rue Timbal is the most accomplished example of half-timbered houses in Old Albi. The reference to Renaissance decorations: double corner windows with pilasters topped with Ionic or Corinthian capitals, triangular pediments, consoles with decorations bearing masks, diamonds, etc. are repeated.
The Reynes Hotel
The Hotel Reynes, rue Timbal, home of a rich pastel merchant is the symbol of this success. The marriage of stone and brick is of a rare elegance. The busts of François I and his wife Eléonore bring a royal touch to its decor, they are visible from the interior courtyard.
Push open the door of the Reynes Hotel, which today houses:
- the seat of the Hiking Tarn for advice and itineraries in the Tarn
- un exhibition's venue linked to the varied riches of the Tarn territory
- un place of visit, at the level of its interior courtyard with very interesting architecture
