Albi

**Albi** () is a commune in southern France. It is the prefecture of the Tarn department, in the Occitanie region. It is on the side of the Tarn river, about  to the northeast of Toulouse.

It is the seat of the Archbishop of Albi. The cathedral and the part of the city around it (the _Episcopal City_) was made a World Heritage Sites in 2010.

## History

The first human settlement in Albi was in the Bronze Age (3000-600 BC). After the Roman conquest of Gaul in 51 BC, the town became _Civitas Albigensium_, the city of the Albigeois.

The Cathars had their main centre at Albi and so they were known also as _Albigens_ after the city. The Cathar movement was a branch of Christianity which was persecuted in the Middle Ages. Because of this, the city was almost completely destroyed in a crusade between 1209 and 1229. Since 1678, the city is the seat of an archbishop. Since 1790, it is the capital city of the Tarn department.

## Geography

Albi is in southern France, in the centre of the Tarn department. The Tarn flows through the city and splits it in two; the historical city is on the left side of the river. Several small rivers, tributaries of the Tarn, flows also through the city.

It has an area of  and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .

The _commune_ is at  northeast of Toulouse and the closest cities are Castres, Toulouse, Mazamet, Graulhet, Lavaur, Gaillac, Montauban, Rodez et Carmaux. It is surrounded by the _communes_ Lescure-d'Albigeois to the north; Saint-Juéry to the northeast; Cunac and Cambon to the east; Fréjairolles to the southeast; Puygouzon to the south; Le Sequestre, Carlus and Saliès to the southwest; Terssac, Marssac-sur-Tarn, Florentin, Rouffiac, Cagnac-les-Mines, Castelnau-de-Lévis.

### Climate

The climate of Albi is an oceanic climate with template summers, **Cfb** (Marine West Coast Climate) in the Köppen climate classification.

The average temperature for the year in Albi is . The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of . The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of .

The highest recorded temperature in Albi is , which was recorded in August. The lowest recorded temperature in Albi is , which was recorded in January.

The average amount of precipitation for the year in Albi is . The month with the most precipitation on average is November with  of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is July with an average of .

## Population

The inhabitants of Albi are known, in French, as _Albigeois_ (women: _Albigeoises_).

The city of Albi has a population, in 2014, of 49,531; its population density is of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>.

## Administration

Albi is the prefecture of the Tarn department since 1797. It is also the capital of four _Cantons_:
1. Albi-1, formed with a part of Albi (15,740 inhabitants) <small>(2014)</small>
1. Albi-2, formed with a part of Albi and 5 other _communes_ (18,332 inhabitants) <small>(2014)</small>
1. Albi-3, formed with a part of Albi and 8 other _communes_ (18,145 habitants) <small>(2014)</small>
1. Albi-4, formed with a part of Albi and 2 other _communes_ (19,064 inhabitants) <small>(2014)</small>

It is part of the intercommunality _Albigeois_ ().

## Cathedral

St. Cecile´s cathedral is built like a fortress, in a gothic style. The cathedral is built in a very special style. Inside, there are frescoes from the Renaissance, worth a visit.

The cathedral has walls which are up to  thick. This makes it the biggest brick building in the world.

## Museum

There is a museum dedicated to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in the city. De Touluose-Lautrec was born in the city. There are also paintings of other people in the museum.

## People from Albi

- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec,1864-1901, painter
- Jean-François de La Pérouse, 1741-1788, French geographer; sailed around the world.

## Education

- École nationale supérieure des mines d'Albi-Carmaux
- Institut national universitaire Jean-François Champollion

## Sister cities

Albi is twinned with:
- Girona, Spain
- Palo Alto, United States
- Randwick City Council, Australia
- Abomey, Benin

## Related pages

- Arrondissement of Albi
- Communes of the Tarn department

## Other websites

- Ville d'Albi - Official website
- Albi Tourist Office
- France for visitors - Albi

## Infobox (unesco world heritage site)

- **child**: yes
- **official name**: Episcopal City of Albi
- **id**: 1337
- **year**: 2010
- **criteria**: Cultural: iv, v
- **area**: 19.47 ha
- **buffer zone**: 64.09 ha


## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Albi
- **commune status**: Prefectures of France, Prefecture and Communes of France, commune
- **image**: (Albi) North views of the Ste Cécile Cathedral and the Old Bridge.jpg
- **caption**: Albi featuring the Sainte-Cécile cathedral and the Pont Vieux (old bridge) over the river Tarn.
- **image coat of arms**: Blason ville fr Albi (Tarn).svg
- **arrondissement**: Albi
- **canton**: Canton of Albi-1, Albi-1
 Canton of Albi-2, Albi-2
 Canton of Albi-3, Albi-3
 Canton of Albi-4, Albi-4
- **insee**: 81004
- **postal code**: 81000
- **mayor**: Stéphanie Guiraud-Chaumeil
- **term**: 2014–2020
- **intercommunality**: Communauté d'agglomération de l'Albigeois, Albigeois
- **elevation m**: 169
- **elevation min m**: 130
- **elevation max m**: 308
- **area km2**: 44.26
- **population**: 49024
- **population date**: 2016


## Infobox (world heritage site)

- **whs**: Episcopal City of Albi
- **image**: (Albi) Cité épiscopale d'Albi - Le palais de la Berbie et la cathédrale Ste Cécile.jpg
- **caption**: Sainte-Cécile cathedral in Albi
- **type**: Cultural
- **criteria**: (iv)(v)
- **id**: 1337
- **region**: List of World Heritage Sites in Europe, Europe
- **year**: List of World Heritage Sites by year of inscription#2010 (34th session), 2010
- **session**: 34th
- **link**: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1337