Memory of Stones
Saint Salvi collegiate church in Albi
The Collegiate Church of Saint-Salvi is a Catholic church located in Albi, in the south-west of France .
From the 11th century, the foundations of a white stone church were laid on the presumed site of the tomb of Saint Salvi. The church has a motley appearance, reflecting the evolution of construction methods, mixing Languedoc Roman art and Gothic architecture. The gap between the two styles is also opposed in the materials, stone for the old and red fairground brick for the most recent. The duration of the work, over nearly seven centuries
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In the 18th century, Antoine de Metge took advantage of the presence of the organ builder Christophe Moucherel, who came to Albi to build the organs of the Sainte-Cécile cathedral, to build an organ on the western wall. To build it, he uses elements from the small organ that existed in the choir and others from the old organ of the cathedral dating from the time of Louis I of Amboise. The latter had been sold for this project by the cathedral college. Funding is provided by the canons and a few generous donors.
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Neo-Gothic pulpit by sculptor Nelli .
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The nave of the collegiate church
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In 1730, the altar was surmounted by a canopy with six domed canopy columns
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Polychrome Christ framed by prophets
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The vault of the collegiate church
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Northern tower reflecting three eras of construction.
Construction begins with the erection of this tower around 1060-1080, built on four large rectangular pillars, joined by arches with two rollers, its architecture is in the Roman style.
The 12th century overcame the primitive tower its Gothic grace made of fine columns with capitals and cornice with modillions.
The 15th century crowned the whole with a brick floor, topped on the side of a strange crenellated watchtower, popularized under the name of "gacholle", whose Occitan name means: surveillance