A trip to Cathar Country in the Langedoc - 4
Albi

The Catholic Church seemed to think that Albi was the root of the Cathar movement, hence the term, 'Albigensian Crusade'. This pleasant, brick-built town is in much gentler country than the main Cathar country further South, although the whole area was quite rich from agriculture & trade in the Middle Ages (& thus, ripe for looting by 'crusaders'). In order to show who was boss, the Catholics (ratcatchers, left-footers, the most evil institution of Western Civilisation, take your pick) built a monstrous cathedral, grossly out of scale with its surroundings & even now, the town turns its back on it. Instead of being in a pleasant square with cafés as in most Euro town centres, traffic is allowed to swirl around this monstrosity, looking like a nuclear power station & just as poisonous inside, where the decor combines a welcome with a threat by mixing painted texts with abstract wall designs. This horror was started in 1265.

Albi Cathedral looming menacingly over the town	Albi Cathedral inside	Albi Cathedral inside
The Bishop's Palace in the same minatory style as the cathedral	Lovely old houses	Nuclear Power-station chic