Albi tourist information
Albi, a city wich will seduce you a landmark for tourists in the South-West of France, near Carcassonne and Toulouse, Albi stands proudly on the banks of the river Tarn, bright with the red bricks wich symbolise the city, a city marked by the slings and arrows of history, and the crusade against the Albigensians or Cathars, a city with a remarkable artistic and architectural heritage, the jewel of which is Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, a city of talented citizens, from Toulouse-Lautrec to the explorer Lapérouse, who have carried the name of the city far and wide, a city where art and history stand side by side in one of the best preserved old towns in France, the” Vieil-Alby” (The Old Alby), a city built along the river Tarn, important site for the city economy since the Midle-Age, whose the banks rencently restaured, revive thanks to all the activities like the local sailing-barges (flat bottomed-boat) and to their illuminations.
In the old town, the heart of the city, Saint Cecilia Cathedral (13th-16th C.) is an astonishing contrast between the outer rigour of its defensive architecture, and the inner riches of its sumptuous decoration. Built as a testimony to the Christian faith in the aftermarth of the crusades against the Cathars or Albigians, this fortress cathadral is a masterpiece of Southern Gothic architecture.
The former archbishop’s palace, built during the 13th. century, is the unexpected site for the artistic work of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, born in Albi on november 24th 1864. More than 1000 paintings, drawings and lithographs by the Albi-born artist are housed in the Museum, including all of the 31 posters he designed. From the works of his youth to the world of entertaimment, depicting the characters in the theatres and cabarets, the vast exhibition is the largest publicity-owned collection dedicated to Toulouse-Lautrec in the world.
Theatre, classical music, jazz and fringe festivals make spring end summer come alive in a city where the show is from dawn till dusk. Exhibitions, international symposia and highly varied programm of the Albi Cultural Centre “Athanor” and “Albi-Tempo”, have made the city a meeting place for people from all walks of life in France and abroad.
