Day 9: Saturday 28 August 2010
Now we are tourists – ‘Ethel’ took us on a mystery tour of the Aveyron region, looking for wine estates and chateaux. En route we discovered a ‘tres bon’ traditional small village restaurant– and what a treat! Plat du Jour was 4 courses of traditional faire – Bronnie tried duck for the first time ever, and is a definite convert. Lush! Waiters like ‘Manuel’ from Faulty Towers, but so friendly, happy and helpful.
On paying the l’addition, Bronnie ever curious, asked the lady at the bar for places to go and things to do. Her English was pretty good, and she set our sight-seeing schedule for the next 4 days, starting with a trip to Albi after lunch. We are ever grateful as we could have missed these ancient town gems.
Albi, located on the Tarn river, is in the heart of the Aveyron region – ‘the Pink Pearl of Languedoc’ with splendid displays of medieval and renaissance architecture. Also the home of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, born into high nobility in 1864.
Many architectural delights in the greater Albi, including the old Pont-Neuf red brick bridge dating back to the 11th century and the grand red brick Cathedral Sainte-Cecile. Never seen anything as majestic! “The buildings of the cathedral close form one of the greatest groupings of brick monuments in the world. The close is dominated by two imposing monuments: the Sainte –Cecile cathedral and the old bishops’ palace fortress, the Palais de la Berbie”.
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