| Albi Albi | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms .svg/64px-Blason_ville_fr_Albi_(Tarn).svg.png) | ||
| State | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Southwestern France | |
| Territory | Tarn | |
| Altitude | 169 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 44.28 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 49 231 (2012) | |
| Name inhabitants | Albigensians | |
| POSTAL CODE | 81000 | |
| Time zone | 1 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Albi is a city in Midi-Pyrenees in Southwestern France.
To know
It is probably best known as the birthplace of the painter and illustrator, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. But at least as relevant to travelers is the Cité épiscopale, an intact ensemble of medieval buildings surrounding the cathedral, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.
In the city there is also the Mundi map of Albi, an 8th-century world map that became part of the UNESCO World Memory.
Geographical notes
Albi, the capital of the department of Tarn, is located 75 km northeast of Toulouse. It is bathed by the River Tarn.
Background
Albi was inhabited as early as the 4th century BC. by the Ruthenians and the Celts. In the 1st century BC the Romans arrived. The presence of the river has always made it a city suitable for trade and in the 5th century it became a bishopric. Passed under the dominion of the Visigoths first, then the Franks and Charlemagne in 666 it was destroyed by a great fire.
The bridge was built in 1035 and between the 12th and 13th centuries it became a Cathar stronghold whose adherents also took the name of Albigensians right from the city. The heresy was then eradicated with the sword, shortly after it was decided the erection of the cathedral of Santa Cecilia and the creation of the bishopric. In the fourteenth century walls were raised, while trade developed with the birth of several mills. This prosperity favored the construction of several palaces for the new rich bourgeois.
In the sixteenth century came the Protestants who were eradicated in the blood restoring the Roman Catholic primacy. But the city began to lose its economic prosperity. During the French Revolution it also lost the primacy of capital, which was then restored. In the meantime, the ecclesiastical assets were sold by changing their intended use.
In 1864 the railway arrived and several factories were installed, one of the most famous is that of hats, one of the most important in France.
How to orient yourself
Albi: full screen map.| Albi city pass |
This card allows you to have a series of discounts on the various monuments to visit and at the affiliated activities such as restaurants and shops. The cost is 12€ and also provides free admission to the choir and treasury of the cathedral and al Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. More information at the website. |
The historic center of Albi is quite concentrated and the reference is the cathedral with its square.
How to get
By plane
Albi does not have an airport but can easily be considered that of Toulouse.
- 1 Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS).
- 2 Rodez-Marcillac Airport (RDZ). Airport of the city of Rodez.
By car
Albi is located on the axis of communication between Toulouse is LyonFrom Toulouse it is reached via the A68 motorway which then turns into national road 88 near Albi. This same road continues northeast to Rodez is Lyon.
From the south-east via the departmental road 612 that connects Castres is Carcassonne passing through Mazamet.
To the northwest, the departmental road 600 joins Cordes-sur-Ciel, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val is Caussade.
Albi is located 789 km from Paris, 390 km from Barcelona and 195 km from Montpellier and as already mentioned 75 km from Toulouse.
On the train
- 3 Albi-Ville station, Place Stalingrad (Reachable on foot, 15 minutes from the center.). The main station of the city.
- 4 Races d'Albi-Madeleine, Place de la Résistance.
By bus
For transport beyond the city you can consult the suburban transport site of the area e this.
How to get around
By public transport
The city is equipped with a bus service, however, given the size it is more practical to walk around.
By car
In the city there are several car parks where you can leave your car:
- 5 Parking Bondidou, Boulevard Général Sibille.
- 6 [link not working]Parking Vigan, Place du Vigan, ☎ 33 899 23 00 09.
- 7 Parking Fernand Pelloutier, Place Fernand Pelloutier.
- 8 Parking Foirail du Castelviel, Place Foirail Castelviel.
What see
1 Episcopal city (Episcopal Cité of Albi). This part of the city includes important monuments and is the historical heart, where the church took over powerfully after defeating the Cathar heresy in the region. The reaffirmation of his presence determines a strong presence with the construction of the episcopal town.
2 Albi Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile). 
Choir and treasure € 6, choir only € 5 (Jun 2018). 
Mon-Sun 09: 00-18: 30, treasure and choir Mon-Sat: 9: 30-18: 00, Sun: 9: 30-10: 15, 13: 30-17: 30. This beautiful and impressive building was designed to express the interest of the Catholic community after the Cathar heresy, which took center stage in this area and was bloodily suppressed by the Inquisition and the Crusades at the time the cathedral was built. in 1287. The building is mainly a Gothic brick construction dedicated to Santa Cecilia of Rome, in fact in one of the chapels there is a statue of the saint that copies the original of Stefano Maderno. Following transformations, even the orientation was changed and today the altar is in an unusual way to the west, while the choir altar to the east.
Choir and treasure € 6, choir only € 5 (Jun 2018). 
Mon-Sun 09: 00-18: 30, treasure and choir Mon-Sat: 9: 30-18: 00, Sun: 9: 30-10: 15, 13: 30-17: 30. This beautiful and impressive building was designed to express the interest of the Catholic community after the Cathar heresy, which took center stage in this area and was bloodily suppressed by the Inquisition and the Crusades at the time the cathedral was built. in 1287. The building is mainly a Gothic brick construction dedicated to Santa Cecilia of Rome, in fact in one of the chapels there is a statue of the saint that copies the original of - This church also housed the Mappa Mundi. Do not miss the audio guide in Italian with the explanations on the choir and the church, very detailed and well done.
- 3 Collégiale Saint-Salvi. Mon-Wed: 8: 30-12: 00, 14: 00-17: 00. 8: 30-18: 00 from June to September. Thu-Sat: 10: 00-12: 00, 14: 00-17: 00. 10: 00-18: 00 from June to September. Sun 2 pm-5pm, 2 pm-6pm from June to September. This church with an adjoining cloister was built between 1060 and 1080 and then continued over the centuries up to its present form. The cloister instead dates back to 1270.
- To look carefully at the bricks of the walls under the arcades: some still bear the fingerprints of the masons who had to dry the bricks before cooking them.
- 4 Hôtel du Bosc, 14 rue Henri-de-Toulouse-Lautrec. This is the building where the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born, it is a 12th century palace with subsequent modifications over time. In 1974 it was classified as a French Historical Monument.
- 5 Town Hall of Albi (Hotel de ville d'Albi), 16 Rue de l'Hôtel de ville, ☎ 33 5 63 49 10 10. The building, seat of the municipality, was built in the 17th century and became a National Monument in 1971.
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- 6 Hotel Fenasse, 1 rue des Foissants and rue Saint-Étienne. It is a 12th century building that belonged to an owner convicted of Catharism. Since 1971 it has been part of the Historical Monuments of France.
- 7 Maison Enjalbert, Rue Timbal and rue des Pénitents. The house dates back to the 16th century and has a wooden structure filled with bricks. The carved window frames are Renaissance. on the wooden structures there are bas-reliefs. Since 1921 it has been a historical monument of France.
- 8 Maison des Viguiers, Rue Timbal. The building was built in the 16th century by the bourgeois family of Roger Reynès. The facade is Renaissance. It became a historical monument in 1862.
- 9 Toulouse-Lautrec Museum (Palais de la Berbie), Place Sainte Cécile. € 9 full, groups € 5, families € 19. Free entrance to the garden (Jun 2018). January, February, March, November and December: Mon-Sun 10: 00-12: 00, 14: 00-17: 30. April, May and October: 10: 00-12: 00, 14: 00-18: 00. From 1 to 20 June: 09: 00-12: 00, 14: 00-18: 00. From 21 June to 30 September: 09: 00-18: 00. Closed on Tuesdays from 1st October to 31st March. Gardens of the Palais de la Berbie: from 1 April to 30 September: 08: 00-19: 00, from 1 October to 31 March: 08: 00-18: 00. The museum mainly exhibits works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, but also of Pierre Bonnard, Georges de la Tour, Raoul Dufy, Henri Matisse, Auguste Rodin, Maurice Utrillo, etc. By Toulouse-Lautrec there are famous works such as Au salon de la rue des Moulins is Moulin rouge - La Goulue.
- Do not forget that the museum is housed in the Palais de la Berbie, a 13th century palace which looks like a fortress due to the presence of towers and walls. In the interior spaces there is also a French garden.
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- 10 Old Bridge (Pont Vieux). It is a 150 meter long bridge over the River Tarn. The first bridge was built between 1035 and 1042, the oldest parts visible today are from the 13th century. Since 1921 it has been classified as a French Historical Monument.
- 11 Théâtre municipal d'Albi, Rue Saint-Antoine. The Municipal Theater was inaugurated in 1893 and has a purely neoclassical style. In 1999 it became a historical monument.
- 12 Tour du Boutge, 30 place Henri-de-Grosse. A fortified tower of the fifteenth century in 1971 registered as a historical monument.
- 13 Vermicellerie d'Albi (Moulins albigeois), 41 rue Porta and 1 boulevard de Strasbourg. This building was formerly a mill that could date back to the 12th century. Then a factory was built which was transformed in the 17th century to become a pasta factory in 1850 and then abandoned. Today it houses a hotel, a museum and the departmental tourism committee.
Tour du Boutge
The Vermicellerie
Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine
- 14 Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, 46 Rue de la Madeleine, ☎ 33 5 63 60 52 63. Although the church on the outside appears anonymous inside, it has very nice decorations and a starry roof. It is worth a visit.
Events and parties
What to do
- 1 Parc Rochegude, 28 Rue Rochegude. Mon-Sun from October to April: 08: 00-18: 00, from May to September: 08: 00-20: 00.
Shopping
- 1 Covered market of Albi, 15 Rue Émile Grand, ☎ 33 5 63 76 94 66. 08:00-20:00. A food market with many local products, but pay attention to the prices.
How to have fun
Where to eat
Being a tourist city it is very easy to be fooled by the prices. Tourist menus are often displayed but do not include drinks which can make a difference on the final price.
Average prices
- 1 The Fourchette Adroite, 7 Place de l'Archevêché, ☎ 33 5 63 49 77 81.
- 2 L'Esprit Du Moulin, 7 Rue de la Piale, ☎ 33 5 63 80 61 62. In the summer it is very pleasant to eat outside. The street is quiet and the food is good.
High prices
- 3 Le Lautrec, 13-15 Rue Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, ☎ 33 5 63 54 86 55.
Where stay
Safety
- 9 Hospital Center D'albi (Center Hospitalier d'Albi), 22 Boulevard Général Sibille, ☎ 33 5 63 47 47 47.
How to keep in touch
Keep informed
- 10 Albi Tourist Office, 42 Rue Mariès, ☎ 33 5 63 49 48 80. Mon-Sun 09: 30-12: 30, 13: 30-18: 00.
Around
- Toulouse
- Cordes-sur-Ciel - city along the way to Santiago de Compostela
