Reynès townhouse

This stunning mansion, dating from 1530, was once home to the Reynès, one of Albi’s most prominent families in the 16th century. They first made their fortune in the cloth trade, then in the woad trade. The Reynès held all the top jobs in town and their marriages were strategic to say the least! As for their townhouse, it’s a masterpiece of Albigensian Renaissance architecture, built in brick and stone. Before you go, be sure to check the inner courtyard – it’s a real gem! This is where they held their grand receptions and welcomed their guests back in the day. Now if you look up, you’ll see a beautiful loggia gallery. Look for the two small niches next; in there you’ll find the busts of King Francis I and his second wife, Eleanor. You see, legend has it that the Reynès were expecting the royal couple for a visit back in 1533, and they had those niches and statues built just for the occasion. Well, guess what? The royal couple never showed and went for a wine tasting in nearby Gaillac instead. A bit rude one might say, but hey, it’s the king, right? All’s forgiven, no questions asked. The Reynès mansion was listed as a historical monument in 1862 and bought by the municipality in 1925. Today, it houses the agency Tarn Attractivité and the Tarn Departmental Hiking Committee.