Albi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Albi
Prefecture and commune
Albi featuring the Sainte-Cécile cathedral and the Pont Vieux (old bridge) over the river Tarn
Coat of arms
Albi Location in France Show map of France Albi Location in Occitanie Show map of Occitanie
Country	France
Region	Occitanie
Department	Tarn
Arrondissement	Albi
Canton	Albi-1, Albi-2, Albi-3, Albi-4
Intercommunality	CA Albigeois
Area 1	44.26 km2 (17.09 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	49,714
• Density	1,123.23/km2 (2,909.1/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	81004 /81000
Elevation	130–308 m (427–1,010 ft) (avg. 169 m or 554 ft)
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Episcopal City of Albi
Criteria	Cultural: iv, v
Inscription	2010 (34th Session)
Area	19.47 ha
Buffer zone	64.09 ha
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Albi is a city in southern France. It is the main city of the Tarn area. Albi is located on the Tarn River, about 85 kilometers (53 miles) northeast of Toulouse. People who live here are called Albigensians. The city is also home to the Archbishop of Albi, a leader in the Roman Catholic Church.

The historic part of Albi, especially around the Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2010. It is known for its special architecture. This area also includes the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, a museum dedicated to the famous artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who was born in Albi.

City Government in Albi

Albi is the center for four different areas called cantons. These cantons include 16 smaller towns and villages. In 2019, the total population of these areas was about 72,416 people.

Albi's Past

The first people lived in Albi during the Bronze Age, which was a very long time ago (between 3000 and 600 BC). After the Romans took over Gaul in 51 BC, the town was known as Civitas Albigensium. This means "City of the Albigensians."

In 584, a historian named Gregory of Tours wrote that many people in the town died from a serious disease called the plague.

Around 1040, Albi started to grow a lot. They built the Pont Vieux, which means "Old Bridge." New parts of the city were built, showing how much it was expanding. Albi became rich during this time. This was thanks to trade and also from charging tolls to people who used the Pont Vieux.

In 1208, a big conflict began. The Pope and the French king worked together against a religious group called the Cathars. The Cathars had different Christian beliefs that the main Catholic Church saw as dangerous. This led to a severe crackdown. Many Cathars in the region faced harsh punishment. The area, which used to be quite independent, became weaker. Because of this, it was later taken over by the French Crown.

After the big conflict against the Cathars, known as the Albigensian Crusade, the bishop Bernard de Castanet finished building the Palais de la Berbie. This was a Bishop's Palace that looked like a strong fortress. He also ordered the start of the Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in 1282. The city then had a time of good business. This was mainly because they grew a plant called woad, which was used to make blue dye. The beautiful houses built during the Renaissance show how much money the dye merchants made.

Albi had a small Jewish community in the medieval period. This community changed significantly in the 1320s. After that, Jews could only pass through the town if they paid a fee; they were not allowed to live there. By 1967, about 70 Jews lived in Albi, mostly from North Africa.

Albi has kept its amazing old buildings. These buildings show the different important times in its history. A lot of work has been done to improve and restore the old areas. This has made them look new and beautiful, with red brick being the main building material.

Cool Places to See

Albi was built around its main cathedral and the bishop's buildings. This old part of the city covers about 63 hectares (155 acres). Red brick and tiles are used for most of the buildings. Like Toulouse and Montauban, Albi is famous for its red brick buildings in the Languedoc style.

One of the most important buildings is the Sainte-Cécile Cathedral. It's a fantastic example of the Southern Gothic style. It was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. The outside looks very strong and plain, like a fortress. But the inside is incredibly rich and fancy. It was built to show the strength of the Christian faith after the conflicts with the Cathars. Over the centuries, more beautiful parts were added. These include the Dominique de Florence Doorway, the 78-meter (256-foot) tall bell tower, and the Baldaquin over the entrance. The rood screen inside is a detailed stone carving. It has over 200 colorful statues made by artists from Burgundian workshops. These statues still have their original colors!

Palais de la Berbie

The Palais de la Berbie is older than the Palais des Papes in Avignon. It used to be the Bishops' Palace of Albi. Now, it is the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in France. This huge fortress was finished at the end of the 13th century. Its name comes from the Occitan word Bisbia, which means "Bishops' Palace."

The Old Bridge (Pont Vieux) is still used today, almost a thousand years after it was built! It was first built from stone in 1035. Later, it was covered with brick. It has eight arches and is 151 meters (495 feet) long. In the 14th century, it was made stronger and had a drawbridge added. Houses were even built on its supports.

Albi is also known for its excellent Lycée Lapérouse. This is a high school with 500 students, located inside an old monastery. It has special advanced literature classes. It is also one of the few schools with a full music section and high-tech rooms for it. The famous explorer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, who explored the Pacific, is remembered in a museum here.

La Goulue arriving at the Moulin Rouge, by Toulouse-Lautrec (1892)

The Le LAIT Art Centre is a place for modern art research. It is located in an old mill at 41 rue Porta.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

The Toulouse-Lautrec Museum has more than 1,000 artworks. This includes 31 of his famous posters. This collection is the largest in the world dedicated to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. He was a famous painter, and he was born in Albi in 1864.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

UNESCO has recognized the "Episcopal City of Albi" as a World Heritage Site. They noted the Old Bridge (Pont-Vieux), the Saint-Salvi area, its church, and the strong cathedral. The cathedral was built in the late 13th century in a unique southern French Gothic style using local brick. The bishop's Palais de la Berbie and the living areas also contribute to this. UNESCO says Albi is a "complete and consistent group of buildings and areas that has stayed mostly the same for centuries." It shows how cities developed in Europe from the Middle Ages until today.

Getting Around Albi

Albi has two train stations on the line that goes from Toulouse to Rodez:

• Gare d'Albi-Ville
• Gare d'Albi-Madeleine

The A68 motorway connects Albi to Toulouse. It also connects to Lyon via the N 88 road, which will become a motorway in the future.

Sports in Albi

Albi is home to several sports teams and events:

• SC Albi is the city's rugby union team. They play in the second-highest league, Rugby Pro D2.
• RC Albi is a rugby league team. They compete in the Elite One Championship.
• US Albi is a football (soccer) club. It was started in 1912 and plays at the Regional 2 Level.
• Albi has hosted stages of the famous Tour de France cycling race multiple times.
  • In 2007, Stage 13 was a 55-kilometer (34-mile) individual time trial that started and finished in Albi.
  • In 2019, Albi was the finish line for Stage 10. There was a rest day in Albi, and then Stage 11 started from Albi.
  • In 2023, Albi was the finish for Stage 5 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes (women's Tour de France).
• Circuit d'Albi is a motor racing track. It is used for national races and is located near Albi's airport.

Learning in Albi

Albi has important schools for higher education:

• École des mines d'Albi-Carmaux is an engineering school.
• Jean-François Champollion University Center for Teaching and Research is a university center.

Albi's Weather

Albi has a climate that is called "humid subtropical." This means it has warm summers and mild winters. It's similar to an "oceanic climate." Compared to many places with the same climate type, Albi's summers are usually warmer and its winters are milder. It gets a good amount of rain in the summer, which keeps it from being a Mediterranean climate.

How Many People Live in Albi?

Sister Cities

Albi has special friendships with other cities around the world. These are called "sister cities" or "twin towns."

• Girona, Spain
• Palo Alto, United States
• Randwick, Australia

Famous People from Albi

Many notable people were born or lived in Albi:

• Antoinette de Saliès (1639–1730), a writer and early supporter of women's rights.
• Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse (1741 – c. 1788), a famous explorer of the Pacific Ocean.
• Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901), a well-known painter, caricaturist, and illustrator.
• Pierre Benoit (1886–1962), a novelist and screenwriter.

Gallery

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  St-Madeleine Church, Albi

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  Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile

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  The choir of the cathedral

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  In the cathedral, paintings of the Last Judgement

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  Collégiale Saint-Salvi, the oldest church in Albi, dedicated to Saint Salvius

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  Hôtel Reynès (Renaissance)

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  Maison Enjalbert (Renaissance)

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  Tarn river in Albi

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  Banks of the Tarn river

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  Banks of the Tarn river

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  Map of Albi, 1914

See also

In Spanish: Albi (Tarn) para niños