It is Saturday and market day in Sarlat and Cahors (even bigger and better - pictures below). We buy fruit, bread and sausages for a picnic lunch at the Sarlat market. The luggage is loaded and we set off for Cahors - Albi will be our stop for the night.On the way, we pass a Citroen dealership with an entire lot of classic Citroens - another photo stop for our guide!
We arrive in Cahors and find parking near the unique 14th century fortified Valentré bridge, also known as Devil's bridge. On the middle tower is a small figure of the Devil trying to pull out the stone. According to legend, the bridge construction was so long and difficult (70 years) that the architect made a pact with the Devil, trading his soul for help with the bridge. There was a series of tricks played on both sides - with this last decoy devil the final trick so the real Devil would stop trying to take the bridge apart.
The Cahors market was great. There were wine tastings in addition to the produce and spices. US farmers' markets, take note! We bought some wine to go with the fruit, cheese, bread and sausages. We left the wine with the vendor since John offered to take it to the car when he finished at the market. We headed to the Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Cahors.
The cathedral was built in late Romanesque style with two domes which are the largest in France (18x32meters each to the top of the domes from the floor) only one dome is still painted. Gothic elements were first added in 13th and 14th century rennovations.
The market food made a great picnic - we were in a lovely park and it was a fine day - perfect for relaxing. We caught this shot of John after Janet and I returned from washing up the picnic ware packed for us by John's wife. Have I mentioned? We all missed Gigi a lot and wished she could have come with us on this great vacation.
We drove on to Albi and checked into our Hotel Pasteliers, a garret room with everything, including refrigerator and internet. It was so inexpensive, we were worried, but it was lovely, a real find.
John walked us to the City center, pointing out landmarks so we could find our way back to the hotel in the evening and left us to explore. He urged us to see the imposing Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d'Albi before we ate dinner.
The cathedral is the largest brick cathedral in the world - built in response to the Albigensian heresy (the Cathars) between 1282 and 1393 after the successful crusade wiping out the entire Cathar population. The power of the "true" church was symbolized in the stark, militaristic exterior.
The church is situated at the banks of the Tarn and therefore has no transept (the arms of the cross on most Gothic cathedrals). It is extremely ornate with inside buttresses supporting the elaborately carved and painted vault.
In 1495 Louis I d'Amboise commissioned a fantastic 270 square meter painting of the Last Judgement in the Flemish style. In 1693, an entrance to the bell tower chapel was cut in the middle of the painting. Here is a drawing of the original. Picture a huge door cut in the middle.
Janet and I walked for a long time to see the beautiful old buildings and criss cross the bridges. We took a break from French food, I had lamb curry and Janet had lasagna - but we did order a local red wine. We were contented and stuffed. We had gotten lost and found a few times but made it back to our hotel for a good night's sleep.
Love to you all from Albi,
Janet and Rozanne
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