La Berbie, Albi, Midi-Pyrenees, France
The Berbie Palace is an old episcopal palace located in Albi , in the south-west of France 1 .
Built in the second half of the xiii th century, under the episcopate of three successive bishops, the project required fifty years. Wanted as a prestigious residence by Durand de Beaucaire , it became a fortress under Bernard II of Combret and Bernard III of Castanet , facing the hostility of the population of Albigensia, both economically and religiously, with the Cathar heresy . Thereafter, it was remodeled several times by the bishops of the city between the xvi th century and xviiii th century, gaining comfort without losing quite the austere fortress.
It was classified as a historic monument in 1862 for construction and in 1965 for insulated interior elements: ceilings, fireplace, wood paneling 1 … Since 2010, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site by its membership in the architectural ensemble Medieval of the episcopal city of Albi . He is close to the Sainte-Cécile cathedral for which he has experienced certain architectural techniques. He shares with her and many of the old city buildings the red brick fairgrounds .
During the law of separation of the Churches and the State , the palace is seized. Since 1924, it houses the museum Toulouse-Lautrec , dedicated to the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec native of Albi. It hosts the largest collection of works by the artist.
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