Heritage with Related Tags
Episcopal City of Albi
Located on the Tarn River in southwestern France, the old city of Albi is a culmination of medieval architecture and urban integrity. Today, the Pont-Vieux, the Saint-Salve quarter and its church bear witness to the city's early development (10th-11th centuries). After the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathar pagans (13th century), the city became a powerful episcopal city. The towering fortified cathedral (late 13th century), built of local bricks in a distinctive southern French Gothic style with typical red and orange colours, is the city's commanding point and demonstrates the power regained by the Roman Catholic clergy. Next to the cathedral is the huge episcopal palace, overlooking the river, surrounded by residential areas dating back to the Middle Ages. The episcopal city of Albi forms a coherent and homogeneous group of monuments and neighbourhoods that have remained largely unchanged over the centuries.
El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City
Located in the state of Veracruz, Tajin reached its peak between the early 9th and early 13th centuries. After the fall of the Teotihuacan Empire, Tajin became the most important center in northeastern Mesoamerica. Its cultural influence spread throughout the Gulf Coast and into the Maya region and the highlands of central Mexico. Its architectural style is unique in Mesoamerica, with elaborate relief carvings on columns and friezes. The "pyramids of niches" are masterpieces of ancient Mexican and American architecture, showing astronomical and symbolic significance of the buildings. Tajin has survived as an outstanding example of the grandeur and importance of pre-Hispanic culture in Mexico.