Albi

Albi, the capital of the Department of Tarn, is 75 km northeast of Toulouse. It is probably best-known as the birthplace of the painter and illustrator, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. But at least equally relevant to travellers is the Cité épiscopale, an intact set of Mediaeval buildings surrounding the cathedral that was recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2010.

By plane

The nearest airport is in Toulouse.

By train

There is a train station in Albi. You can check schedules on the SNCF website.

• Cathédrale Sainte-CécileThis beautiful and impressive fortified cathedral was designed to express a renewal in orthodox Catholicism after the Cathar heresy, which had been centred in the area and whose bloody suppression by the Inquisition was largely complete at the time construction began in 1287. The edifice is primarily a brick Gothic construction, but there is a door by Dominique de Florence (Dominick of Florence) and there are also Italian Renaissance frescoes on the ceiling. Its organ dates from the 18th century.

• Palais de la Berbie and the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec

  address: Place Sainte-Cécile
  The largest public collection in the world dedicated to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, including the 31 posters he designed, paintings, drawings and lithographs.

• Old bridge

• Old windmills

• Le Lautrec

  phone: +33 5 63 54 86 55
  address: 13-15 Rue Henri de Toulouse Lautrec

• La Fourchette Adroite

  phone: +33 5 63 49 77 81
  address: 7 Place de l'Archevêché