Albi is an attractive town that does not exactly rise to exceptional, but it is entirely worth a visit just for its cathedral. The huge church (it claims the title of the largest brick building in the world, but I believe that to be suspect) majestically towers above town. Inside, it is most incredibly painted every inch of its surface. Well-structured audioguide (€5 or €7, depending on whether you want to see the treasury or not) suggests that the frescoes never required restoration in centuries since they had been painted.

Next to the cathedral is the former Archbishop's palace, which houses an excellent museum of the favorite local son Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. If you are not into impressionist art, contend yourself with admiring the palace from the outside, since the interior retains only a couple of fragments of past grandeur. Walking around the palace to Jardins de la Berbie is a must: it is both colorful and offers excellent viewpoints over Tarn and the other side of the town. Walking over Pont Vieux to that side offers good views of the core part of Albi, crowned by the cathedral.

The core itself is pretty compact and fairly commercialized. Cloisters of St-Salvi is a quiet oasis, and some streets are impressive enough. The red-brick Languedoc-style architecture is unique to this part of the world, with occasionally exposed timber frames and painted shutters being practically the only adornments on the building façades; balconies are rare once you step away from main streets.

Minimal time allocation: The cathedral requires at least an hour, and covering the historic core, including the gardens, St-Salvi, and the bridge takes another two or so. If you, like me, cannot miss Toulouse-Lautrec, another hour and a half is the minimum required for the museum. Beyond the formal parts of WHS, there are a handful of minor museums in Albi that can stretch a visit to a full day.