Former episcopal palace, built as early as the 13th century, before the construction of the Popes' Palace in Avignon, the Palais de la Berbie is one of the oldest castles in France and one of the best preserved.
Together with St. Cecilia's Cathedral, it forms a striking and unique ensemble of the Episcopal City classified as a World Heritage Site in 2010 by UNESCO.
It houses in particular the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum and offers, in addition to beautiful French gardens, remarkable views of the Tarn and the Cathedral of Sainte-Cécile.
Initially built to be a fortress, various modifications over the years have made it a real pleasure palace.
With the law of separation of the Church and the State, the Palais de la Berbie became the property of the city of Albi which installed there the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, a museum of international renown, with an exceptional collection of the painter.
During the recent restructuring works of the museum and the Palace, superb tiles of the 13th century were brought to light.
This tiled surface of 130m2 seems to be the largest in France of the medieval period.
A footbridge allows visitors to see these restored tiles.
The great hall of the Tour Mage, a former enormous keep 50m high, flanked by four corner towers, is today dedicated to the history of the Palace.
Palace of the Berbie
Place Sainte-Cécile
81000 Albi
www.albi-tourisme.fr/
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