Albi is in Tarn, Midi-Pyrenees, in Southwestern France.

A view of the old bridge and part of the old city

Understand

Albi, the capital of the Department of Tarn, is 75 km northeast of Toulouse. It is probably best-known as the birthplace of the painter and illustrator, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. But at least equally relevant to travellers is the Cité épiscopale, an intact set of Mediaeval buildings surrounding the cathedral that was recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2010.

The Albigensian Crusade in the 13th century was named for this town which had many of the Cathars that the Church considered heretics.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airport is in Toulouse.

By train

There is a train station in Albi. You can check schedules on the SNCF website.

• 1 Albi-Ville railway station (Gare d'Albi-Ville), Place Stalingrad. (updated Nov 2020)
• 2 Albi-Madeleine railway station (Gare d'Albi-Madeleine). (updated Nov 2020)

See

Choir and choir screen of the cathedral

• 1 Albi Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile), 5 Boulevard Général Sibille. This beautiful and impressive fortified cathedral was designed to express a renewal in orthodox Catholicism after the Cathar heresy, which had been centred in the area and whose bloody suppression by the Inquisition was largely complete at the time construction began in 1287. The edifice is primarily a brick Gothic construction, but there is a door by Dominique de Florence (Dominick of Florence) and there are also Italian Renaissance frescoes on the ceiling. Its organ dates from the 18th century. (updated Nov 2020)
• 2 The Berbie Palace (Palais de la Berbie), 4 Rue de la Temporalité. (updated Nov 2020)
• 3 Toulouse-Lautrec museum (Musée Toulouse-Lautrec) (Within The Berbie Palace). Jan-Mar Nov Dec: 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:30; Apr May Oct June 1-20: 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00; June 21st-Sep: 09:00-18:00; closed Tuesdays; Oct-Mar. Palace gardens: Apr-Sep: 08:00-19:00; Oct-Mar: 08:00-18:00. Art museum dedicated mainly to the work of the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864 – 1901) who was born in Albi. Includes the 31 posters he designed, paintings, drawings and lithographs. Adult €10, family €21, child up to €13, extra fees for special exhibitions. (updated Nov 2020)
• 4 Old bridge (Le pont vieux). Constructed between 1035 and 1042. (updated Nov 2020)
• Old windmills. 

Do

Albi Savings Bank

Eat

• 1 Le Lautrec, 13-15 Rue Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, ☏ +33 5 63 54 86 55. 
• 2 La Fourchette Adroite, 7 Place de l'Archevêché, ☏ +33 5 63 49 77 81.