Episcopal city of Albi
Located on the edge of the Tarn, the old town of Albi, in the south-west of France, reflects the flourishing of a medieval architectural and urban complex that still bears witness today to Le Pont-Vieux, the village of Saint-Salvi and its church (10th-11th century). In the 13th century, the city became a powerful episcopal city after the Albigensian crusade against the Cathars. An original Southern Gothic style based on locally made red and orange brick, the fortified cathedral that dominates the city (13th century) illustrates the renewed power of the Roman clergy. It is completed by the vast episcopal palace of the Berbie that overlooks the river and is surrounded by quarters of houses dating from the Middle Ages. The episcopal city of Albi forms a coherent and homogeneous set of monuments and districts that has not undergone major changes over the centuries.
Outstanding Universal Value
Brief summary
The Episcopal City of Albi presents a complete and representative built complex of this type of urban development in Europe, ranging from the Middle Ages to the modern and contemporary era. Its monumental and urban elements are complementary and well preserved, in subtle harmony of tones and allure by the widespread use of the brick forain. It testifies to the simultaneously defensive and spiritual program implemented by the Roman Christian bishops following the eradication of the heresy of the Albigensians or Cathars in the thirteenth century. The Cathedral of Sainte-Cécile is the most remarkable monumental symbol, in a unique southern Gothic architectural style, completed in the 15th-16th centuries by a systematic painted interior decoration, a choir and a late Gothic statuary. The exceptional value of the city is finally expressed by a well-preserved medieval urban landscape of great authenticity.
Criterion (iv): The historic city of Albi presents an outstanding medieval architectural and urban ensemble. It is homogeneous and expresses itself in a quality urban landscape, which has a great visual coherence due to the widespread and sustainable use of the fairground brick. The Sainte-Cécile Cathedral offers an exceptional architectural and decorative example and unique adaptation of the Gothic to the context of the Midi of France.
Criterion (v): The urban site of Albi was built up gradually over the ages, especially from the Middle Ages. The events of the Albigensian crusade have transformed it into an emblematic episcopal city, structured around its cathedral and its palace-episcopal fortress. The set is one of the few to be as complete and as well preserved. It fully expresses a type of urban settlement characteristic of medieval and Renaissance Europe.
Integrity and authenticity
All of the ancient architectural elements are part of the historic area proposed for inscription, and this corresponds exactly to the boundaries of the city as it was during the Renaissance. The damage to integrity is mainly due to urban redevelopment in 19th and early 20th century neighbourhoods. They remained of limited scope, not affecting the perceived coherence of the City as a whole.
The conditions of authenticity of the urban structure of the property, a significant number of buildings of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and most monuments are satisfactory, thanks to proper conservation. There is a great visual coherence due to the chromatic nuances of the fairground brick used over the long historical period and until today.
The integrity and authenticity of the overall urban landscape must be emphasized and must be a priority objective for long-term preservation.
Protection and management requirements
The main monuments of the Episcopal City are under the protection of the French law of 1913. The 1962 Malraux Law on Safeguarded Areas resulted in an early municipal project approved in 1968. A safeguard and enhancement plan followed, approved in 1974. The protective device is suitable and works satisfactorily. An extension of the protection of the urban landscape is announced, beyond the buffer zone (concerted protection procedure known as ZPPAUP - Protection zone of the urban and landscape architectural heritage).
The asset management system is long-standing, involving a multiplicity of actors with specialised functions, where they generally exercise a recognised competence. The municipality appears as the current coordinator of this system, notably through the concerted management with the inhabitants of the saved area, which includes both the property and its buffer zone. A Good Committee is in place to monitor conservation and protection, coordination between the various stakeholders and the relationship with the inhabitants.
Text from the World Heritage site.