Albi Pass Bon Séjour à Albi

Reception Service - Information
Palais de la Berbie, Place Sainte-Cécile
F - 81000 ALBI
Tel : 33 (0)5 63 49 48 80
Fax : 33 (0)5 63 49 48 98
[email protected]
www.albi-tourisme.fr
Incoming Tour Service
Tel : 33 (0)5 63 49 48 76/86
Fax : 33 (0)5 63 49 48 93
[email protected]
Opening Hours
From 01/09 to 30/06 :
9am/12.30am - 2pm/6pm*
*6.30pm in May, June and September
Sunday and public holidays :
10am/12.30am - 2.30pm/5pm
From 01/07 to 31/08 :
9am/7pm
Sunday and public holidays :
10am/12.30am - 2.30pm/6.30pm
Closing days
1st January, 1st May,
1st November, 25th December
Car park area
Parking Sainte-Cécile:
250 paying spaces (B3)
Parking du Vigan :
380 paying spaces (C3)
Parking
Jean-Jaurès : 525
paying spaces (C3)
Parking Pelloutier :
168 free spaces,
38 paying spaces (D3)
Parking
de la Cathédrale :
375 free spaces,
149 paying spaces
et 9 reserved to
camping cars (B3)
Place de l’Amitié
entre les Peuples :
166 free spaces,
19 paying spaces
Boulevard Sibille :
113 spaces
Exchange
Money can
be changed
on banks’
closing days.
Hotel
Reservation
At the reception
service of the
Tourist Office.
Bon Séjour à Albi
Nights B&B with preferential prices
+ visits and leisure with numerous
reductions
+ welcome’s gift
Albi and
its Region
Albi Pass
One entrance in the cathedral choir
+ one entrance
in the Toulouse-Lautrec museum
+ numerous reductions : monuments,
sports, animations, trading partners
With the participation
of Albi Town Hall
Crédit photos : Ville d’Albi, P. Bertrand, Apa Poux, A. Noël, CDT Tarn
Collection Musée Toulouse-Lautrec Albi Tarn France
Please, don’t litter.
Local institution for Tourism authorised by State agreement
N°AU.081.95.001. The public liability insurance for Professionnals is underwritten at AXA assurances IARD presence assurances 56 rue de la Victoire
75308 PARIS cedex 09. The financial guarantee is secured at APS.
F - 81000 ALBI
OFFICE DE
TOURISME
★★★
2
3
he treasure-troves
T
The treasure-trove is laid out in one
of the upper chapels, a former
strong-box dating back to the 13th C.,
it exhibits a collection of sacred work
of art from the 14th to the 19th C.
basilica consecrated
A
to Sainte-Cécile
From the 5 C. onwards, Albi
th
cathedral had owned important relics
from this Roman Saint. Ever since,
this construction had been dedicated
to the martyred patron saint of music.
T
he Cathars
Throughout the 12 C.,
th
the Cathars, referred to
as «Albigensians»
took great
influence in
Languedoc
Region as the
messengers
of a new faith.
Considered
as heretics,
attacked
by King
and Church,
they were
massacred
and burnt
at the
stake in the
murderous
times which
bloodied
the whole
of the
Southwest
of France.
Groups : guided tours
performed by Guides-Interpreters
of the Tourist Office on reservation
all year round.
Individuals :
see on page 16 “French guided tours”
4
Sainte-Cecile
Cathedral
uilt from the 13th to the 15th C in
the old town, the heart of the city,
Sainte-Cecile Cathedral emerges like a
vessel of bricks. As a testimony to
the Christian faith in the aftermath of
the crusade against the Cathars or
Albigensians, this fortress cathedral,
part of the city walls, is a masterpiece
of the Southern Gothic architecture. The
building was further adorned by the porch
Dominique-de-Florence (finished circa
1392), the 78m high bell-tower (1492)
and the baldachin over the entrance porch
(1515-40). The interior is an astonishing
contrast with the outer rigour of its
defensive aspect. The vast painting of
the last judgement was originally 200m2
wide. The richly coloured frescoes on
the vaulted ceiling represent the most
large and important
Italian painting from
the Renaissance
period in France.
B
5, boulevard Sibille
81000 ALBI
Tel : 33 (0) 5 63 43 23 43
Fax : 33 (0) 5 63 43 23 44
E.mail : paroisse.
[email protected]
entrance
" rue de la Temporalité "
Opening times
1/06-30/09
9am-6.30pm
1/10-31/05
9am/12am2pm/6.30pm
July/August/September
Exhibition by Kim In
Joong, the Korean
Dominican painter,
in the grand choir
Entrance
prices
Cathedral
free
Choir
+ 12 years : E 1,
(E 1.50 from july
to september)
School set price :
E8
The remarkable,
highly ornate
rood screen
and the choir
gate decorated
with a major
polychromatic
sculpture
together with
the monumental
18th C. organ,
are a museum
of Christian
art forms.
Treasure-trove
from 12 to 25 years :
E2
+25 years : E 3
Audioguides
available in the course
of 2007, in French,
English, Italian,
German, Spanish
and Dutch.
Free organ concert
July-August :
Wednesday : 5pm
Sunday : 4pm
5
Toulouse-Lautrec
Museum
Palais de la Berbie • B.P.100 • F-81003 Albi cedex • Tel : 33
I n t e rnet : musee-toulouse-lautrec.com •
he former archbishop’s palace,
built during the 13th C., is
the unexpected site for the artistic
work which represents the lifestyle
in Paris and Montmartre at the end
of the 19th C., that of Henri de
Toulouse-Lautrec.
T
hanks to the generous donation
of the painter’s family, more than
1,000 paintings, drawings together
with lithographs by the Albi-born artist
are housed in the museum, including
all the 31 posters he designed.
T
5 63 49 48 70 Fax : 33 (0) 5 63 49 48 88
[email protected]
rom the works of his youth to the
world of entertainment, depicting
the characters in the theatres and
cabarets, the vast exhibition is the
largest public-owned collection
dedicated to Toulouse-Lautrec in the
world. With his swift hand sharp,
merciless eye, the painter still conjures
up the murky world of Montmartre and
scenes from the brothels within it ; the
museum also houses a number of
remarkable portraits by this prodigious
painter, as well as one of his last
canvases painted in 1901, representing
each and every period of his fertile
career. The museum is also graced with
a number of older works of art, by
La Tour and Guardi, amongst others,
and a wonderful collection by modern
masters such as Bonnard, Matisse,
Marquet, Vuillard and Vlaminck...
F
Groups :
guided tours performed
by Guides-Interpreters
of the Tourist Office on
reservation all year round.
Individuals : see on page
16 “French guided tours”
6
enri de
H
Toulouse-Lautrec
Toulouse-Lautrec was born in Albi
on November 24th, 1864, in the Hôtel
du Bosc, his family’s mansion built on
the city ramparts. His father was count
Alphonse de Toulouse-Lautrec; his
mother, Adèle Tapié de Celeyran,
came from the Aude region.Victim of
a congenital disorder, Henri dedicated
his life to drawing and painting the
seedier side of his contemporaries’
lifestyle, the world of music-halls and
brothels in turn-of-the-century Paris.
Exhausted by the abundance of his
creative work, alcohol and disease, he
took refuge with his mother in the Château
de Malromé in the Gironde region,
where he died on September 9th, 1901.
entrance
" Quai Choiseul "
Opening times
01/11-28/02
10am/12am-2pm/5pm
Closed on Tuesdays
March
10am/12am2pm/5.30pm
Closed on Tuesdays
01/04-31/05
10am/12am-2pm/6pm
June
9am/12am-2pm/6pm
July & August
9am/6pm
September
9am/12am2pm/6pm
October
10am/12am2pm/5.30pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Days of closure
January, 1st
May, 1st
November, 1st
December, 25th
Entrance
prices
Adults : E 5
Students/groups :
E 2.50
(from 15 pax)
Children : (less
14 years) free
Family :
E 12.50
Audioguides
50 works of ToulouseLautrec
are explained
in French, English,
Italian, German
and Spanish
Price : E 3/pax
7
the Berbie
Palace
Toulouse-Lautrec Museum
he name of the archbishop’s palace is a
corruption of «Bisbia», the term in the
Occitan language for archbishop. Its
construction began in the 13th C. and was finished
in the early 14th C. The powerful medieval fortress
was extended in the 15th century by archbishop
Louis d’Amboise. To make the residence more
human, the prelates of the Grand Siècle (the
Reign of Louis XIV who was known as the
Roi-Soleil) later restyled the rooms and opened
the building out onto the most recently built
terraces and gardens à la Française. The walls
of brick reinforced by semi-cylindrical transom
buttresses, a technique used in the construction
of the cathedral, turn the building into a
powerfully impressive monument.
Lapérouse Museum
limited access
Opening times
01/09 - 31/10
01/03 - 30/06
9am/12am - 2pm/6pm
closed on Monday
01/07 - 31/08
9am/12am - 2pm/6pm
from Monday to Friday
10am/12am - 2pm/7pm
on Saturday and Sunday
01/11 - 29/02
10am/12am - 2pm/5pm
closed on Monday
T
Visit of the
exterior and
of the gardens
01/04-31/09
8am/7pm
01/10-31/03
9am/6pm
Visit of the
interior
refer to the museum
opening hours
Days of closure
January, 1st
May, 1st
November, 1st
December, 25th
The renovation of the Toulouse-Lautrec museum
An important programme of restoration has started in The ToulouseLautrec museum in order to present a contemporary museography.
At the end of November 2004, the first section of works completed,
3 new exhibition rooms 420m2 large, since then unknown to the public,
were opened to welcome the visitors. They form the first part of a new
museographic space dedicated to Toulouse-Lautrec. From the main
courtyard of the Berbie Palace, visitors have access to the new entrance
of the museum and the shop area. The works for the reorganization and
extension of the museum progress ; the collection will be displayed in a
contemporary museographic environment and offer a m o re adapted
visit of the collection as well as the necessary improvements: new rooms
for temporary exhibitions, large rooms for educational classes and an
auditorium seating up to 160 people.
8
Square Botany Bay • 81000 Albi
Tel : 33 (0)5 63 46 01 87
ean-François Galaup de Lapérouse
J
was born in Albi on the 23 August
1741 and became a midshipman at the
rd
age of 15. He had already seen active
service in the wars with England and
the American War of Independence.
Confident in the navigator’s wishes of
adventure and progress, King Louis XVI
sent him on the exploration of the Pacific
Ocean. In 1785, Lapérouse set sail off
Brest with 225 men among whom specialists and engineers on 2 frigates, the
Astrolabe and the Boussole and went
along Alaska, California, China, ... His last
j o u rney was to end abruptly during a
cyclone on the reefs of Vanikoro in 1788.
Models of the 2 ships alongside with
various navigation instruments and
remains from the wreck are exhibited in
the museum.
LLaboratoire
T.
.A.I.Artistique
International du Tarn
(Formerly Cimaise et Portique)
ontemporary art
centre unique in
France, located in the
two main cities of the Tarn region, Albi
and Castres: it focuses on promoting
contemporary art, support for artists,
and raising public awareness.
C
There are two main sites for exhibitions in
Albi: the Moulins Albigois, in which two
exhibitions are held each year, and the
Contemporary Art Centre / Bellevue
Education Centre which hosts an artist in
residence and two exhibitions every year.
Days of closure
January, 1st - May, 1st
November, 1st
December, 25th
Entrance prices
Adults : E 3
Students/groups : E 2
From 10 pax
Children (- 12 years) : free
Offices
8 rue Jules Verne
81000 Albi
Tel. : 33 (0)5 63 47 14 23
Moulins
Albigeois:
41 rue Porta - 81000 Albi
Tel. : 33 (0)5 63 38 38 91
Opening times
01/04 - 31/10 - 2pm - 7pm
Everydays excepted on
Tuesday; Friday and
public holidays
Entrance prices
Adults: ? 2
Students (- 18 years),
Jobseekers: free
Pôle d’Art
Contemporain Ac.C
Cité Scolaire Bellevue
98 rue du Roc - 81000 Albi
Exhibition 2007
Jagna CIUCHTA
Information
Tel. : 33 (0)5 63 47 14 23
9
Le Vieil
Alby
The old city
The brick
In Albi, colours are
part of the urban
environment : the
ochre varies in hue
ranging from the pale
pink to the fiery red.
In the Tarn Valley,
red clay is abundant,
carried along by the
Tarn river from The
Rougiers in South
Aveyron. This
material, ready for
processing is easy to
work with. From the
tile roofs to the brick
buildings the red is
dominant everywhere
in town.
1 rue de la Croix
Blanche
Tel: 33.(0)5.63.54.96.38
Monday : 3pm/7pm
From Tuesday to
Saturday :
10.30am/12.30am3pm/7pm
Closure : Sunday public holidays January
Entrance
prices :
Adults : _2
Children
(less 12 years) : free
10
o straight lines : the old town
appears to be a real maze with its
nooks and crannies, narrow cobbled
streets, porches and courtyards. Behind
facades and half-timbered houses often
lie many jewels : Italian loggias in the
Hôtel Reynes, the Saint-Salvi cloister gardens of paradise and bird songs.
Here, you can hear the echoes of a
cellar, there a painter or the hammer
of a lady wrought iron-maker. The
ancient heart of the city, the Old Alby
is still alive and animated.
To discover
the highlights
of Albi
Purple
Circuit
1.30 hour
N
The house
of Vieil Alby
edicated to S. Salvi, Bishop
of Albi from 574 to 584 A.D.,
this small church combines
Romanesque and Gothic architecture and shows major alterations.
D
St-Salvi’s
cloister
djacent to the church, all that
remains is the south gallery.
Yet again, it was the French
Revolution which irremediably
damaged it when 2 of the cloister’s
wings were sold off as national
property.
Visitors enjoy the tranquillity and
peace of these nooks of greenery,
maintained every day by the Town
Parks and Gardens Department.
A
Opening times:
Church :
Week : 9am/12am-2pm/6pm*
(*Wednesday : 5pm)
Sunday : 2pm/16pm - free
Cloister :
everydays 7am/8pm - free
Get to know
the heart of Old
Alby, its historic
figures and
buildings, its
monuments all witnesses
to Albi’s glorious
past.
Gold
C1.30irchouruit
Discover
the different
stages of Albi’s
development
through its
beautifully
restored old
town centre and
its 20 centuries
of history.
Azure
C1. ihour
rcuit
Takes you on a gentle
stroll along the banks
of the Tarn, and over the
Pont-Vieux and PontNeuf, with superb views
over Albi.
Free brochures
are available at the
Tourist Office
ebuilt from the Middle Age plans,
this half-timbered house is
characteristic of Albi constructions with
their overhanging facades : its corbelled
upper storey is an open shed named
“soleilhou” to dry woad, the tinctorial
plant cultivated during the 15thC. Inside,
the history of Albi and the Tarn area
is illustrated through exhibitions
and colour slides shows.
R
11
he park covering some
3 hectares was donated to
the city by Admiral Rochegude
in the 19th C. It was
transformed into an English
garden with a maze, ponds, treed
alleys, in stark contrast with
the ordered nobility of a terrace laid
out à la française. The two halves
forma harmonious whole, however,
with visitors strolling
from one to the other almost
without realizing the crossing.
The park has been planted with
superb, rare species of trees
from many different regions
around the world, including
sequoias, cedars and oaks of many
varieties, ginkgoes, shrubs and the
delicate colours of spring blossom
trees. All of the exotic varieties were
brought back by
the Admiral from his various sea
voyages. Waterfalls, ornamental
ponds, birds, rest points, children
squares : Rochegude park is an
exceptional relaxing place.
T
Opening hours
all year round,
every day
01/09-30/04
8am-6pm.
01/05-31/08
8am-8pm.
Leisure amenities
Pratgraussals
Tel. 33 (0)5 63 60 64 06
• Fishing
• Tennis
• Picnic areas
• Playgrounds
for children
• Mountain bike
area
• The Adventure
Route,
Escalad’arbres
Leisure
amenities
Cantepeau
(towards Carmaux)
Tel. 33 (0)5 63 60 44 24
• Hiking
• Tennis
• Playgrounds
for children
• Picnic areas
12
parks,
gardens
and green
spaces
t the end of the 17 century,
A
the first bishop of Albi had the
bishop’s palais de la Berbie surrounded
th
by terraces and gardens. These have
now been restored to their former
splendour. The fortresses and
dungeons as well the basilica of SainteCecile majestuously dominatea series
of floral compositions and greenery.
The terraces have been planted with a
wide variety of richly coloured shrubbery.
The walks are bordered by marble
statues, with Dionysius and the four
seasons standing watch over stone
benches set out beneath shaded
bowers of roses and wild wines.
A shaded gallery and two view-points
provide perfect vistas from which to
admire the unique landscape stretching
out beyond the banks of the river Ta rn .
ander along the left riverbank to
W
look at seasons changing, stroll
throughout the autumns, wait for the
coming spring and have a cool lunch
break. Here, countryside is back in
town, nature combines harmoniously
with heritage, the banks of the Ta rn
reveal the border between the city and
the suburb. Down the Palais de la
Berbie’s remparts, 1 km of greenery
spaces to run, dream, idle or murmur
sweet nothings.
VILLE FLEURIE (“Flower
decorated town”) - 4 flowers
Season in, season out, Albi embellishes
in a great variety of colours and scents.
Flowers are sprinkled here and there in
streets, squares or corners… Here is the
city of Albi with its history and gardens.
B2 on map
3 well marked out
circuits to walk in
the centre of the
town (3 km long):
• The circuit
on the banks
of the river Tarn
• The wild circuit
• The Mouline
circuit
Along the left
riverbank, six
panels explaining
the history of
pastel are marked
out along this path
nearly 1 km long.
These panels
explain
the importance
of this tinctorial
plant used as a
dyestuff and the
major economic
role it played in the
city’s history from
the 14th to the
16th century.
13
most important events
of the year
January
« Week-end à l’Opéra »
Zaïde et Barbe Bleue - Scénith
February
Carnival
March
Horse Fair - Parc des Expositions
“Un week-end avec Elles” (only French
women’ songs)
Parc des Expositions
Big trade and second-hands sales
Parc des Expositions
Postcards Fair - Pratgraussals
French racing circuit’s cup
Car racing circuit
Rebonds Festival
Chorégraphies expositions à l’Athanor
April
Trade Fair - Parc des Expositions
Marathon
May
French championship of sportdanse
- Scénith
Festival “Voix-là” (songs)
June
Giant Flea market - Halle du Castelviel
« Place des Peintres » - Old centre
July
“Pause Guitare”
Concerts - old centre
Summer big sales - Parc des Expositions
Tour de France (cycling) - city center
French Championship Enduro
Circuit automobile
Summer Theatre festival
“Scènes Estivales” - Théâtre
de Verdure (subject to alteration)
Monday Conferences - Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile
Histoires d’un soir - discovery of the Old centre
by a theatre company
August
Monday Conferences - Cathédrale Sainte Cécile
Religious theatre and songs - Cathédrale
Sainte-Cécile
Histoires d’un soir - discovery of the Old centre
by a theatre company
Tarot card contest - Parc des Expositions
September
Grand Prix - French championship circuit automobile
Pastry Feast - Tarn river banks
Young film directors presentation - l’Athanor
October
Antics and Second-hand Fair - Parc des
Expositions
November
Organ concert - Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile
Paintings and Sculptures exhibition
Salon d’Automne - Moulins Albigeois
Sainte-Cécile Fair - Town centre
Winter Rock Festival - Athanor
«Tarot card contest» - Parc des Expositions
Model Fair - Parc des Expositions
Le Mois de l’Image - Photos exhibition in the town
December
French Film Festival “les Oeillades” - Athanor
Christmas
Christmas
Christmas
Christmas
concert - Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile
Fair - Parc des Expositions
market - place Sainte-Cécile
Flea market
Pause Guitare
The 11th French songs Festival «Guitar
break» will be held on Saint-Cecile
square from July 5 to 8: a major event in
the Midi-Pyrenees region, an absolute
must with quite 25 000 persons received
in 2006. The 2007 line-up of almost 40
famous artists will provides once again
wonderful entertainment and interesting
discoveries: Sanseverino, Jacques Higelin,
Arno, Jeanne Chérhal, Dan Ar Braz, Idir
are programmed and a dozen of artists
will pay homage to Boby Lapointe.
Most popular for its friendliness with its warm
and delightful artistic quality, “Guitar break”
brings a true interlude in everone’s life.
Information :
Arpèges et Trémolos au 05 63 60 55 90
14
15
Guided Tours
(french only)
The whole year : guided tours for everyone
Guided theme tours
One Saturday a month (except in July
and August) : guided tour off the beaten
track… An alternative discovery of
Albi through a special theme : history,
architecture, famous characters,
nature…
Detailed programme at the Reception
service of the Tourist Office.
Photo « D.VIET CRT Midi Pyrénées »
Visits organized for children
In order to discover in a pleasurable
way the heritage and history of the
town, visits are proposed to children
during the school holidays.
Information and reservation at the
Tourist Office of Albi.
Important annual events
Every year, the guides of the Tourist
Office propose guided visits and/or
works in groups in relation with a
national theme such as :
• Night of the Museums
• Rendez-vous in the garden
• The Cultural Heritage Day
The visits and animations are free.
Information and booking at the
Tourist Office.
Easter (07/04-21/04)
Summer (04/07-09/09)
Every day : guided tours in French of the
Town major sites.
Should not be missed : Sainte-Cécile
Cathedral and le Vieil Alby (The Old
Town), masterpiece of Southern Gothic
architecture.
The works of Toulouse-Lautrec,
the Albi-born artist who depicted the
Parisian lifestyle at the end of the 19th C.
The Albi glasswork VOA (bottle factory)
1st cooperative founded by Jean Jaures
(only summer).
Programme, prices and tickets available
at the Tourist Office.
River cruises
in a « gabarre »
From the 15/06 to the 15/09
On one of these raditional flat-bottomed
boats, discover the pleasures of a gentle
stroll to admire exceptional views of the
city of Albi and to know the economic role
played by the river down the centuries.
Cruises « The heart of Albi »
Mini-cruises at the foot of the ramparts
1/2 hour)
Half cruises
The 1.45-hours cruise time from Albi to
Castelnau-de-Lévis castle. Possibility to
bring picnics on board.
Cruises Albi/Aiguelèze/Albi
The 2 hours cruise time to discover
landscapes, history and heritage,
fauna and flora along the river.
16
Boarding point on the
banks of the Tarn river.
Access Quai Choiseul
17
monuments and sites
in the environs
L
escure (3km towards Rodez)
Ancient fortified village (defensive
door 1563). Norman church of
St-Michel (11th C.) featuring a beautiful
sculpted portal. Keys of the church
are available at the City Hall.
Saint-Michel de Lescure
N
otre-Dame-de-la-Drèche
(4km towards Cagnac-les-mines)
12th C. restored in 1860, sanctuary
featuring sumptuous paintings (1894).
S
aint-Juéry (3km Tarn Valley)
Espace Culturel du Saut-du-Tarn and
From water to steel Museum. Gigantic
scale model of the site for the simulation of the Tarn river great swellings.
A
mbialet (25km Tarn Valley)
A picturesque site where the river Tarn
is forming an impressive loop dominated by a priory with a Norman church.
R
abastens
(39km towards Toulouse)
Ancient fortified town, church of NotreDame-du-Bourg (13th-14th C.) : Norman
capitals, interior in paintings f resco.
«Musée du Pays Rabastinois».
Part of the ancient
province of
Languedoc, the
“Albigeois” is
situated mid-way
between the
Mediterranean sea
and the Atlantic
ocean and backed
on to the spur of
Massif Central.
The department
has taken its name
from the river Tarn
that flows across it.
G
Notre-Dame de la Drêche
aillac (25km towards Toulouse)
An ancient Gallo-Roman town,
famous for its millennial vineyards.
Museums. Abbey church of St-Michel
(13th-15th C.). In the vicinity, Château
de Mauriac (15th C.)
L
isle-sur-Tarn
(30km towards Toulouse)
Attractive medieval village (bastide)
built in the 13th C. Central plaza
bordered with an arcaded walkway ;
half-timbered houses. The museum
exhibits an interesting archeological
collection alongside paintings
and drawings by the seventeenth
century artist R. Lafage.
Chocolate Museum. One of the
most picturesque French villages.
Ambialet
18
19
Musée
de la Mine
Cagnacles-Mines
agnac-les-Mines
C
(6km towards Carmaux)
Former mining town. Mining
Museum : guided tour in a
reconstituted mining gallery
(special engines in working order).
Cap Découverte, leisure spot.
armaux (15km from Albi)
C
Exhibition on the mining history,
C
astelnau-de-Lévis
(5km towards Cordes-sur-Ciel)
onestiés
M
(20km towards Carmaux)
Remains of the 13th C. feudal castle with
an astonishing tower.
V
iaduc du Viaur - Tanus
(35km towards Rodez)
Impressive iron Viaduct on the river
Viaur (19th C.) made by Bodin.
Norman church of Las Planques
(11th C.).
D
énat
(towards Castres)
Ancient fortified town.
Norman chruch.
Viaduc du Viaur
R
éalmont
(20km towards Castres)
Central plaza surrounded by an
ancient covered walkway. Church of
Notre-Dame-du-Taur, quaint circular
farm, «la Métairie Ronde» (5 km).
raulhet
G
(21km towards Castres)
Important tanning centre. «Maison
des Métiers du Cuir» : exhibition
of old tools and machinery used for
tanning leathers.
autrec (30km towards Castres)
L
Lovely medieval village, windmill
de «la Salette». One of the most
picturesque french village.
Moulin de Lautrec
20
in the
environs
Château de la Verrerie. Artificial lake
of La Roucarié (5 km) : picnic area,
play ground, water sports amenities.
Picturesque medieval village.
Gothic church (13th C.). In the Chapel
of St Jacques : Christ entombment
(polychromatic group 15th C.).
Exhibition of 2 painters from the
Tarn area : Bajen and Vega. One of
the most picturesque French village.
Mise au Tombeau
Monestiés
monuments and sites
ordes-sur-Ciel (25km)
C
Certainly the most outstanding
medieval city in France. Famous for
its highly perched fortified site and
Gothic sculpted facades (13th -14th C.).
Numerous traditional handicrafts.
Y. Brayer Museum, Sugar works Museum,
Embroidery Museum, l’Art du Luthier
(Stringed instruments maker), Palais des
Scènes, Jardin du Paradis. One of the
most picturesque French villages.
Art and History museum Charles Portal.
C
astelnau-de-Montmiral
(30km towards Gaillac)
Castelnau de Lévis
Ancient fortified town, defensive gates,
plaza bordered with arcades, houses from
14th and 15th Centuries. In the vicinity :
prehistoric site of Le Verdier, dolmen
of St Paul, Château du Cayla. Artificial
lake of Cahuzac-sur-Vère and its leisure
amenities. One of the most picturesque
French villages.
P
enne (60km towards Gaillac)
Picturesque medieval village built on a
narrow outcrop dominating the Aveyron
river. Ruins of an impressive 12th C.
castle, Gothic church.
P
uycelsi (45km towards Gaillac)
Ancient fortified town overlooking
the river Vère. Medieval construction
(14th-15th C.).Gothic church (16th C.).
One of the most picturesque French
villages.
B
runiquel (56km towards Gaillac)
Astonishing castle built on a great cliff
dominating the Gorges of the Aveyron
river. Prehistoric shelters in the rock.
Cordes-sur-Ciel
21
Around Albi by bike
Circuit made by the Fédération Française
de Cyclotourisme Ligue Midi-Pyrénées.
A quiet and easy 22km bike ride to explore
Albi and three neighbouring villages
(Lescure, Arthès et Saint-Juéry).
Available from the Tourist Office.
Some suggestions
to walk :
The green footpath
Le sentier du train (The Train path) :
from Albi to Castres
La Boucle de Rouffiac (The Rouffiac
round)
Le Tarn à pied (the Tarn on foot)
Les sentiers d’Emilie
Available or for sale at
the Tourist Office
Bibliography for
a discovery of Albi
and its region
For sale at the Tourist Office
Sainte-Cécile d’Albi sculptures,
Ed. Odyssée
Sainte-Cécile d’Albi peintures,
Ed. Odyssée
La cathédrale Sainte-Cécile
voir, comprendre, Ed. Odyssée.
Albi et l’Albigeois
Ed. APA Poux
Albi, ville d’art (Fr,GB,Esp,It,All)
Ed. APA Poux
Connaître Albi (Fr, GB)
Ed. Sud-ouest
Toulouse-Lautrec
Ed. Taschen
Jean-François Galaup de Lapérouse
Ed. Ass. Lapérouse
A la découverte du Tarn (Fr, GB)
Ed. APA Poux
Bastides du Midi (Fr, GB)
Ed. APA Poux
Le Pays Cathare (Fr, GB, Esp)
Ed. APA Poux
Le Tarn à pied
Ed. F.F.R.P.
22
By road
Paris - Albi
A71, A75 exit
Séverac-le-Château or
A20 by Cahors/Caussade
Bordeaux - Albi
A62, exit Montauban
Méditerranée - Albi
A9, exit Béziers
A61, exit Carcassonne
or Castelnaudary
Toulouse - Albi A68
Biarritz - Toulouse A64
By rail
SNCF Albi
Paris - Albi
Central station : 08 36 35 35 35
Daily links
Direct night train
Toulouse - Albi
Daily links
By air
Via Toulouse
National and international
Airport
Toulouse- Blagnac
(70km)
on reservation
Tel : 33 (0)5 61 42 44 00
Distances
from Albi
Toulouse 75
Montpellier 185
Perpignan 215
Bordeaux 276
Marseille 352
Barcelone 390
Lyon 397
Saint Sebastien 419
Nice 527
Nantes 565
Paris 650
Strasbourg 820
Milan 840
Lille 860
Madrid 880
Florence 930
Frankfort 1 010
Londres 1 100
Rome 1 200
“Interligne”
Navette Albi
Aéroport Toulouse-Blagnac
on reservation
Tel : 33 (0)5 34 508 900
(road link car ToulouseBlagnac/Albi)
Bus station
place Jean-Jaurès
05 63 54 58 61
23