Albi Cathedral, Gothic cathedral in Albi, France.
Albi Cathedral is a bishop's church made of red brick in the southern French town of Albi, resembling a fortified structure. The outer walls are thick and smooth, with narrow windows between buttresses, while the interior forms a tall single hall.
Construction started in 1282 under Bishop Bernard de Castanet as a response to the Cathar wars in Languedoc. Completion stretched over more than two centuries, with work finishing only in the late 15th century.
The name recalls the city that returned to the Roman Church after the Albigensian conflicts and viewed the building as a sign of loyalty. Worshippers today find a place for prayer and celebration, with the interior shaped by Italian frescoes and choir work.
The entrance sits on the west side, where visitors find the main door and can walk the interior without additional aids. The gallery in the upper level is reached by a staircase and allows views of the frescoes and choir area.
The structure uses no stone at all in the masonry, relying entirely on regional brickwork, which is rare for Gothic religious buildings of this size. Some of the interior frescoes were uncovered only in the 19th century, having been hidden under layers of whitewash for hundreds of years.
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