Albi and the Musee Toulouse-Lautrec

May 27, 2014

It was reminiscent of "herding cats" but the premier outing for everyone was a sojourn in to Albi with a visit to Cathedrale Ste-Cecile and the adjacent Musee Toulouse-Lautrec. We could manage with two cars for the twelve if we drove the Jump and the Ford Max so with Paul and Joshua as our designated drivers and our GPS onboard, we set off.

On this first excursion, it seemed like a big adventure to a distant place but, as the vacation continued and we got more comfortable with the terrain, we realized that Albi was no more than a skip and a jump from Combefa and Carmaux. Neither driver was certain of our exact destination but it seemed prudent to follow the signs to "centre ville" as the cathedrals of old were inevitably in the center of town. After maneuvering through the city traffic, we were able to park within a few blocks of our target and set off walking. The cathedral itself was begun in 1282 and took a century to build but has withstood the years well. Not being an expert on cathedrals, to me it appeared like most Gothic buildings. The children did, however, find the fountain enjoyable.

To break up the touring after the cathedral, we walked around the square and enjoyed snacks of delicious crepes from an outdoor stand. Both savory and sweet were on the menu and it was a difficult choice. 

We perused the shops and soaked in the local culture.

Then we turned our attention to the museum itself. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born here in 1864 to a wealthy family. He suffered two accidents in his teens that left him with atrophied legs and, in his convalescence, he focused on sketching and painting to pass the time. After his early death, his parents donated a vast body of work from his studio and this museum houses the most extensive collection of Lautrec in the world.  

                                                    The site could have warranted an extended period of time but the children tolerated it well and we all particularly enjoyed the garden.

More walking about followed the museum and a time at a cafe for libations, bathrooms and people-watching was included. Near the cafe was a carousel so our little guys were treated to several rides before we piled into the cars to return to Combefa via Super U. 

 Relaxing on the terrace and sipping wine seemed a fitting end to the day. Jet lag was beginning to set in for the Sunday arrivees so an early night was key to being able to keep up the pace for the hectic days to follow.