About the city of Albi
Albi is the principal city in the Tarn department of the Occitane region of France. The city has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010 because of its fortified cathedral, Sainte Cécile and the Berbie Palace. The river Tarn flows through the town, which is mainly built of red tiles and bricks, similar to Toulouse.
Getting to Albi
Toulouse airport is just over 75km (47 miles) from Albi and is the nearest international airport in the region. A bus travels between the airport and Albi. There are also direct train connections into the city from Toulouse, the journey time is about one hour. Travelling by car from Toulouse takes about 50 mins along the A68.
Useful travel links
Arriving by train from Toulouse, my hotel was about a 15-minute walk from the train station. Ibis Styles Le Theatro (48 Place Jean Jaurès) is a clean and comfortable hotel and a reasonable walking distance to the Old Town. As it was lunchtime, I visited a restaurant close by. Le Lit Blue (26 Rue de Laurent Camboulives). Tapas plates varied between 6 – 8€ and made for a good lunch.
From there it was on to the Tourist information office (42 Rue Mariès) to plan my visit. The old part of the city is naturally concentrated around the Cathedral square while modern Albi is based at Place du Vigan, just along from my hotel.
Albi landmarks for the first-time visitors
Within 200 metres of the office was the Cathédrale Sainte Cécile. The building was started in 1282 and construction continued over two centuries. It must be one of the largest brick buildings in the world. The castle-like austere exterior could not be more different from the interior with over 15000 square metres of frescoes, a fantastic sight.
Did you know that a famous French post-impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born in Albi? There is a museum named after him which has a collection of his artwork - a must-see local tourist attraction.
Between the cathedral and the river Tarn, are the Jardins du Palais. A quiet planned garden alongside the Palais de la Berbe (4 Rue de la Temporalité). This was the palace of the ancient bishops built in a military architectural style, it was converted into a fortress in the 13th century. It now houses the Toulouse-Lautrec museum (Palais St Cecilia’s Square). The museum, founded in 1922, celebrates the life and works of Henri Toulouse Lautrec, the famous post-impressionist painter. Information about his first drawings and his famous paintings and posters can be found here. Please check the official museum web site for opening hours, current exhibitions and further information.
Pont Vieux this old bridge was built in 1035 originally from stones but later covered with the traditional red bricks. With a span of over 150 metres and 8 arches it is a popular tourist attraction as well as a practical means of transport over the River Tarn. In medieval times, there were houses built on the bridge as well as a chapel. A tower at the entrance used to collect taxes on goods entering the city.
Crossing over the bridge and walking along the Rue Porta, you come to the Musée Lapérouse (41 Rue Porta). An interesting exhibition about the life and times of the sailor and explorer Count Jean-Francois Lapérouse. He explored the Pacific Ocean and arrived at Botany Bay in Australia on the same day as Captain Cook! There is aa area in Sydney named after him as well as several streets. His statue stands in Place La Pérouse.
Heading back into the centre of town over the Pont du 22 Aout 1944 bridge, it was time for some refreshment. Le Chien Rouge (49 Lices Georges Pompidou) had a reasonable selection of draught beers and cocktails. The food offering was the usual standard (burgers, salads) but there was also the charcuterie which looked good.
In addition to the historical sites, Albi also has a music festival each year which can attract, not only headline acts but up to 60000 live music enthusiasts.
Albi is well worth a visit if you are in the region, (a day trip from Toulouse perhaps). You can take a step back in time and lose yourself in the old narrow streets with their brick and timbered houses while there are plenty of bars and restaurants to while away a few hours.
Everyone travelling to Albi or France from the UK should check Foreign Office travel advice for France.
