\b0 Built between 1281 and the end of the fourteenth century, the cathedral of Sainte-CΘcile in
Albi is one of the most unusual religious buildings in France. Erected in a region dominated by the Cathar heresy, its large nave rising to a height of 28 meters (92 feet) and its 80 meter (262 foot) high tower resembling a fortress made it a symbol of
the glory of Catholicism and of the superiority of the rulers of the north of France to the heretics of the south. Inside, a rood screen from the end of the fifteenth century is the only one to have survived in France, as is its choir screen, decorated w
ith statues and comprising fine carved stalls.\par
