Albi trip planner

Albi is a commune in southern France. It is the prefecture of the Tarn department, on the River Tarn, 85 km northeast of Toulouse. Its inhabitants are called Albigensians (Albigeois, Albigeoise, albigés -esa). It is the seat of the Archbishop of Albi. The episcopal city, around the Cathedral Sainte-Cécile, was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2010.AdministrationAlbi is the seat of 4 cantons, covering 16 communes, with a total population of 71,281.HistoryThe 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 territory of the Albigeois, Albiga. Archaeological digs have not revealed any traces of Roman buildings, which seems to indicate that Albi was a modest Roman settlement.In 1040, Albi expanded and constructed the Pont Vieux (Old Bridge). New quarters were built, indicative of considerable urban growth. The city grew rich at this time, thanks to trade and commercial exchanges, and also to the tolls charged to travelers for using the Pont Vieux.