The Berbie palace is located Albi, in the Tarn, and forms with the former palace of the bishops and the cathedral the episcopal city a World Heritage Site in 2010 by UNESCO.
It was built in 1250 on a site overlooking the Tarn, having been fortified in antiquity.
Has a dungeon built in brick with corner towers, it is rapidly expanded in the early fourteenth century when is high then a second tower is added with a rectangular cross walls and housing a chapel.
Fortress, the palace said Berbie (a term from the Occitan meaning "bishop") is a masterpiece of military architecture that symbolizes religious power deal with civil consuls of the city.
However, over the centuries, the palace will be redesigned and transformed into comfortable residence.
The building has since the eighteenth century by beautiful gardens that occupy one hand the old place of garrison and partly cover the old round path from which one enjoys a panoramic view of the Tarn and the cathedral. Composed boxwood massive cut on beds of white gravel and voisinant flowers in summer, the park labeled Remarkable Garden is typical of classical gardens.
Finally, the Berbie palace now houses the Museum Toulouse-Lautrec. On display are 31 posters, 563 drawings, 183 lithographs by the artist. What understand all the different periods of his work and its recurring themes (brothels, the entertainment, the circus). On the second floor, gathered works of artists who were contemporaries of Toulouse-Lautrec as Emile Bernard, Maurice Denis and Pierre Bonnard.
The hotel also hosts annual prestigious exhibitions.
The park is open all year. The museum that reveals also the rooms and layout of the Berbie palace is open daily from April to September, every day except Tuesday from October to March. Closed on 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December. Rates: 5 and 10 euros. Information +33 5 63 49 48 70.
