Palais de la Berbie

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Palais de la Berbie is a former urban castle of the bishops of Albi, built between 1228 and 1308, standing in the French town of Albi in south-western France. Built during the second half of the 13th century under three successive bishops, it took some fifty years to complete. Conceived as a prestigious residence by Durand de Beaucaire, it became a fortress under Bernard II and Bernard III in the face of hostility from the people of Albi, both economic and religious, with the Cathar heresy. It was later remodelled several times by the town's bishops between the 16th and 18th centuries, gaining in comfort without entirely losing the look of an austere fortress. It was listed as a historic monument in 1862 for the building and in 1965 for individual interior features: ceilings, fireplace, panelling and more. Since 2010 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the medieval architectural ensemble of the Episcopal City of Albi. It stands next to Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, for which it served as a testing ground for certain architectural techniques. Like the cathedral and many buildings in the old town, it is built of red foraine brick. Under the law separating Church and State, the palace was seized. Since 1924 it has housed the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, devoted to the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a native of Albi. It holds the largest collection of the artist's works.