Today was my first excursion for my Special Topics Religious Studies course! We went to St. Cecilia Cathedral in Albi, France, and we studied the general architecture of the building, inside and out. Because it is such a dominant landmark, it was made to be a statement. It's dominant, bulky features represent the importance of religion on the city. It's overpowering presence is blatant. The majority of the structure is plain and simple with brick to say that the Church took the vow of poverty and charity literally, but its intricate detail in stone, which was later added on, declares its power. The bulk of the church is built in the Romanesque style of the early middle ages, and the added on stone and pinnacles was built in the Gothic style years later. It was a fascinating trip, and you can see for yourself the intricacy and the enormity.
Of course we had some free time in the town, so we got lunch at a little shop on the corner and ate our baguettes and eclairs at a quaint outdoor shop, and we did a little window shopping in the boutiques. You can't go to France and not have a crepe (pronounced [krep]), so we stopped at a cart for some nutella crepes before we got back on our bus.
(I'm backed up against a wall looking straight up here)
You can see the difference between the Romanesque style (left) from the Gothic style (r) here.
All the pictures in your posts are beautiful! I feel as though I am walking through the countryside along side you. The Cathedrals are so beautiful. So much detail everywhere your eye looks. I cannot wait to see more!!!
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