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Best Things To Do in Albi, France

28/01/2025

Article written by Elisa
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If there is one town to visit in southwestern France, it is Albi. Located in the Tarn department, part of the Occitanie region, this town is incredibly fascinating for its rich medieval history and architecture.

Nicknamed “Albi La Rouge” for the color of the stones used to build its buildings, the Cité Episcopale d’Albi is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the best day trips from Toulouse, Albi is also a great place to spend a few relaxing days. Read this article to discover the best things to do in Albi for a fantastic holiday.

Are you planning a trip to Albi last minute?

Below, are some of the best Albi tours, hotels, and more!

Looking to travel around Albi independently? Click here for the best rental car rates in Albi or in Toulouse.

Top Experiences and Tours in Albi

Top Albi Accommodation and Lodging

Don’t leave for Albi without your travel insurance!

SafetyWing Essential plan works well for long and short trips (from 5 days up). Can also cover electronics theft through their add-on.

What to Do in Albi

How many days in Albi? Although most people visit Albi on a day trip from Toulouse, the Cité Episcopale is best visited in two days with no rush. Stay longer to explore more of the Tarn department on day trips from Albi.

Explore the Old Town

Albi Old Town

One of the best Albi things to do is to stroll through its historical centre.

The Old Town is packed with beautiful squares and amazing buildings with reddish bricks. Among the spots you shouldn’t miss are Place Savène, Le Castelviel, the Maison du Vieux Albi (a typical medieval house), and Place du Château with the XXL ALBI letters.

Albi - Southern France

Most streets in Albi are pedestrian-only, so grab a map at the Tourism Office (42 Rue de Mariès, Albi) and enjoy one of the three self-guided tours proposed to discover the city. Each itinerary covers different parts of the city and lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Exploring Albi at your own pace is a great idea, but you should also consider joining one of the fantastic guided tours by licensed guides. I took the guided tour offered by the Tourism Office (available in French only). Other tour options are this private Albi walking tour (the price is for up to 10 people) or this unique tour of 18th-century Albi with Mme de Lapérouse, where you can immerse yourself in the history, gossip, and local sights of the era.

This lovely day trip from Toulouse is another way to visit Albi comfortably. This guided tour with transportation in a small van visits Albi and the town of Cordes-sur-Ciel.

Old Town Albi
Historical houses - Albi

Cathédrale de Sainte-Cécile 

Sainte-Cécile Cathedral - Albi

The imposing Sainte-Cécile Cathedral is one of the unmissable Albi attractions. It is the largest brick cathedral in the world, with a bell tower that reaches 78 meters. Sainte-Cécile is also Europe’s largest painted Cathedral.

This enormous building took 200 years to build and boasts a Southern Gothic style characterized by the austerity of the constructions and brickwork.

From the outside, the Cathedral looks like a fortress. This is because Albi’s bishop was more afraid of the locals than external threats!

Another astonishing feature of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral is the contrast between its austere exterior and stunning interior. Upon entering, you can admire an exceptional collection of stained glass ceilings and richly colorful Renaissance Italian frescoes.

Sainte-Cécile Cathedral Inside - Albi
Murals Sainte-Cécile Cathedral - Albi

The Tourism Office’s tour also includes a visit to the Cathedral. The local guide’s explanations of the decorations and paintings made me appreciate the Cathedral much more.

Address: 5 Boulevard Général Sibille, Albi. Opening times: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Musée Toulouse-Lautrec (Palais de la Berbie)

Palais de la Berbie (Toulouse-Lautrec Museum) - Albi

The famous painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born in Albi, so there is no better place to see his beautiful paintings.

A complete collection of his works is housed in the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec inside the Palais Berbie, the former Episcopal Palace.

We are lucky to be able to admire Toulouse-Lautrec’s paintings because when he died, nobody was interested in them. However, his cousin, who was the Mayor of Albi at the time, decided to open the museum. Today, the permanent collection of the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec consists of 240 canvases. 

Toulouse-Lautrec is most famous for depicting scenes from the low life of Montmartre in Paris, where he lived. Cabarets and brothels are the main settings of Toulouse-Lautrec paintings and drawings, and women are the main protagonists.

Toulouse-Lautrec Museum - Albi

Address: Palais de la Berbie – Place Sainte-Cécile, Albi. Opening times: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Palais de la Berbie’s Gardens

Palais de la Berbie Gardens - Albi
Palais de la Berbie Gardens - Albi

After visiting the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, don’t leave the building before stopping in the Palace’s Gardens. These small but beautiful French-style gardens are part of the Cité Episcopale d’Albi and are free to visit.

These gardens were commissioned by the first archbishop of Albi, Hyacinthe Serroni, to embellish the Palais Berbie. Take a leisurely walk on the old walkway overlooking the flower beds and decorative bushes and admire superb panoramic views of the city and the Tarn River. 

The Palais de la Berbie’s Gardens are open all year round and are a great place to enjoy a relaxed time while in Albi.

Le Castelviel

Castelviel Neighborhood - Albi
Castelviel - Albi

The magnificent historic center of Albi is packed with charming streets and hidden gems. One of the best areas to visit is Castelviel, Albi’s oldest neighborhood.

The peach-toned neighborhood of Castelviel is tucked behind Sainte Cécile Cathedral. Proudly medieval, it is a succession of squares surrounded by half-timbered houses, making it a real postcard.

The best thing to do in Castelviel is simply walkabout, admiring the picturesque streets of the neighborhood.

Pont Vieux

Pont Vieux - Albi

The Pont Vieux is one of the top Albi attractions. It connects the two banks of the Tarn River. A UNESCO monument, it is one of the few bridges of medieval origin still in use in France.

Pont Vieux was built in the 11th century to accommodate the town’s growing economy since Albi was an important crossroads between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

With the passing of the centuries, the bridge elongated, and houses were constructed straddling the roadway. However, after a flood, the houses were severely damaged and cannot be seen today.

For the best pictures of Pont Vieux and its eight arches with the Sainte Cécile Cathedral in the background, go to Pont du 22 Aout 1944.

Before going back to the Old Town, explore the banks of the Tarn River: they are great for a leisurely stroll, a picnic, or a nap on the grass.

River banks - Albi
River banks - Albi

Buy Local Products in Albi’s Covered Market

Albi's Covered Market

Among the best things to do in Albi is browse the covered market to purchase local products. This covered market is full of character as it is housed in a “Baltard-style” pavilion built in 1903.

Like any other place in France, markets sell freshly produced food, making them the best places in towns for sampling authentic food.

Wandering among the stalls of Albi market, you will be tempted by the fragrant smells of the “petit jeannots,” the aniseed biscuits typical of Albi, and the “bougnettes,” a filling made from bread, pork, and eggs.

Address: 11 Rue Saint-Julien, Albi. Opening times: Tuesday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., including all public holidays.  

Saint-Salvi Collegiate Church and its Cloister

Cloister Saint-Salvi Collegiate - Albi

The Saint-Salvi Collegiate Church has stood proudly on the corner of Place Sainte-Cécile since the Middle Ages.

Built in the 11th century, it was named after Albi’s first bishop. Saint-Salvi Collegiate is the oldest church in town, boasting Romanesque and Gothic styles.

The church’s main characteristic is its mixture of stone and brickwork, which makes its architecture particularly interesting.

During your visit, don’t miss the Church’s marvelous cloister. Constructed in 1270, the cloister is a sequence of Romanesque arches embellished with Gothic capitals sculpted with figures and animals. At the center of the cloister is a small garden where aromatic and medicinal herbs are grown. This is a true piece of heaven!

Address: 29 Rue Mariès, Albi.

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What to Do Near Albi

Albi can keep you busy for one day or two. With more time, explore more of the Tarn department, also known as “the French Toascana.” Here are my favorite day trips from Albi:

Take the Gaillac Wine Route

Château Lastours - Gaillac

At the gates of Albi is the Gaillac AOC, one of the wine production areas in Southwest France. The region claims to be among the earliest viticultural centers of ancient Gaul, and it has been recognized as an AOC (controlled designation of origin) since 1938.

The main grape varieties in the Gaillac wines are Duras and Fer Servadou (reds) and Len de l’El, Mauzac Blanc, Mauzac Rose, and Muscadelle (whites).

The Gaillac vineyard area boasts around 400 wine properties and private cellars, so you can’t miss a wine tasting during your holiday in Albi!

Château Lastours - Gaillac
Gaillac wines (AOC)
Gaillac Wines

Albi Tourism Office organizes wine tastings in its office from time to time. Otherwise, if you have a car, you can visit a couple of Gaillac wineries to meet the winegrowers and appreciate the range of Gaillac wines.

Wineries like Château Lastours (pictured above) offer tours, which usually include a visit to the grounds and wine tastings, but you must book your spot online in advance.

Take a Day Trip to Cordes-sur-Ciel

Cordes-sur-Ciel

If you have an extra day in Albi, consider a trip to medieval Cordes-sur-Ciel. Easily reachable by bus (bus #A68, departure from the Gare Routière), Cordes-sur-Ciel is a small hilltop village surrounded by clouds.

Cordes-sur-Ciel is one of the oldest “bastide” towns in Occitania. Nestled on the rocky Puech de Mordagne ridge, it was founded in 1222.

Cobbled streets, Gothic buildings with sculpted façades, and high ramparts from where you can admire breathtaking views of Cérou Valley just below the clouds make Cordes-sur-Ciel an unmissable destination.

Cordes-sur-Ciel is also famous for the many workshops scattered around its historic center. Browse the shops of local potters, painters, and jewelry makers, and don’t miss the art galleries and museums in town.

Cordes-sur-Ciel

Take a Day Trip to L’Isle-sur-Tarn

L'Isle-sur-Tarn

Another fantastic day trip from Albi is to L’Isle-sur-Tarn. Easy to reach by train, L’Isle-sur-Tarn is an iconic old “bastide” town. Bastide towns were created in the 13th century by the king, a count, or even an abbey.

The main feature of L’Isle-sur-Tarn is the central arcaded square, one of the largest in southwest France. The square used to be the center of public life in the town, where locals went shopping, doing business, and meeting with one another.

Today, bars and restaurants are all around Place Paul Saissac. Sit here and relax while soaking up the peaceful atmosphere.

While in L’Isle-sur-Tarn, stop by the Musée du Chocolat (13 Place Paul Saissac) and visit the stunning church Notre Dame de la Jonquière (3 Rue de l’Eglise).

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