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!!!Albi and cathedral

[{Image src='170.png' caption='Albi cathedral\\Photo: H. Maurer, 2015' alt='' width='900' class='image_left' height='473'}]

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Albi [{GoogleMap location='43.929047,2.15' zoom='13'}]  is located on the River Tarn, c. 85 km northeast of Toulouse. Its inhabitants are called Albigensians. 


It was already a small settlement in Roman times. Today it has a population of some 50.000. It became (in) famous because of the brutal Cathar Crusades (1209-1229), also called Albigensian crusades, initiated by pope Innocent III and the French king - the latter also motivated by the idea to conquer additional territory- against the Christian Cathari who were considered preaching heresy. 

Albi Cathedral is a Brick Gothic cathedral that was  constructed between 1287 to 1480 after the crusades that caused much bloodshed and destruction also in Albi. The cathedral's dominant presence and fortress-like exterior were intended to convey the power and authority of the  Roman Catholic Church. The cathedral is often considered the largest brick building in the world. It is a UNESCO heritiage site.
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