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A complex architecture

Cité épiscopale d’Albi

The church is architecturally complex, the variation of styles reflecting a piecemeal construction.

The oldest parts of the structure, built in stone in the Romanesque style, date back to the 11th century. The base of the northern tower with its Lombard bands is particularly characteristic of this Southern Romanesque architecture.

Two centuries later, we find the brick construction of the Gothic era. If we look for example at the bell tower, we find an 11th century Romanesque stone base mounted by a series of 13th century arcades and a final level of bricks.

Around 1100 the Southern bell tower was built.

The watch tower which flanks the bell tower, known as “la gâchole” (from the Occitan gâchar: “to watch, survey”) was the highest edifice in the town until the completion of the Cathedral’s bell tower.

Throughout this part of the church the frequent use of horseshoe arches is notable, this feature is highly characteristic of local architecture around this period.

A new phase of construction between 1100 and 1120 sees the construction of a nave with seven lateral bays. This extension makes Saint-Salvi the largest Romanesque building in the Albi region to survive up to the 21st century.

In conclusion we borrow the words of Canon de Lacger, historian of Saint Salvi:

“Saint-Salvi is an anthology of mediaeval architectural styles. With a single glance, a watchful eye recognises three types of buttress, three forms of window, three styles corresponding to each of the different ages. Although, from the aesthetic point of view, it is a work of the second order, it can be classed in the very first order if we consider its synthetic interest and, architecturally speaking, its pedagogical value.”

Texte extrait de la plaquette "Église-collégiale Saint-Salvy, Albi" écrite par le chanoine L. Chamayou

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