11 Extraordinary Things To Do in Albi, France

I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about Albi – this small city is seriously incredible. We just walked around amazed by the architectural beauty and gorgeous views on display throughout the city.

Albi is constructed almost entirely of brick, which is plentiful and cheap in the region thanks to the clay found along the Garonne River. Toulouse is also constructed in a similar brick style.

Interestingly, some buildings in town are half-timbered and filled in with brick instead of stucco, a notable deviation from other half-timbered cities such as Rouen, Colmar, or Strasbourg.

Albi is particularly fascinating for its history as the seat of a powerful archbishop, who served as both the city’s political and spiritual leader. While it was common for church leaders to hold political influence during the Middle Ages, the Bishops of Albi wielded exceptional power and authority in the region.

The importance of this office and the power the bishops had is evident in the extravagant cathedral and the bishop’s palace – the two most dominant and fascinating attractions in town. In fact, the city is often referred to as “The Episcopal City” (and is a UNESCO site) for this very reason.

All this to say: Albi is a fascinating city to visit in the Occitanie region and definitely deserves a visit. To help you plan your visit to this underrated French city, here are the best things to do in Albi.

11 Extraordinary Things To Do in Albi

1. Sainte-Cécile Cathedral

Albi is home to the largest brick cathedral in France, and not only is it the largest brick cathedral, it is one of the most stunning religious buildings in the country, bar none. We walked in and our jaws literally dropped to the ground!

Despite being a Gothic cathedral, its style is uniquely fortified, with castle-like elements in its main pillars and some decorative roof ornamentation—a militant symbol of faith meant to convey both power and authority, and devotion to Catholicism after the Crusades.

The main entrance is through a newer Gothic porch, built 200 years after the cathedral itself, featuring intricate, embellished designs that symbolize the transition from the secular to the religious world.

Inside, you’re greeted by an enormous, soaring vault and nave. Every square inch of the ceiling, walls, and archways is covered in colorful, intricate paintings. Many side chapels feature trompe-l’oeil geometric designs, giving the artwork a three-dimensional aspect and feel.

The cathedral also makes liberal use of red marble and impressive scrollwork, and incorporates symbols like the fleur-de-lis mixed with the cross to symbolize the “divine rule” of the kings.

The main nave is free to visit, but access to the choir and back of the church requires a €6 ticket, which includes an informative audioguide.

The choir is extraordinary, separated from the nave by an intricately carved screen—the only one of its kind in France. The choir area is stunningly detailed, with embellishments reflecting its importance.

The treasury is also worth exploring, with treasures such as a bejeweled cross, scepters, statues, and altarpieces on display.

2. Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in the Palais de la Berbie

The Palais de la Berbie is the Bishop’s Palace – “berbie” comes from an old French word for “bishop.” The palace was originally built between 1228 and 1306, with renovations and expansions continuing over the centuries.

During the 1200s and early 1300s, the bishops of Albi wielded significant power and sought to showcase their political authority through grand architecture.

At the same time, the palace was designed as a fortress to provide physical protection during a period of frequent regional conflict. One of the most notable events of this era was the Crusade against the fortified city of Carcassonne, which had a lasting impact on the entire region.

In 1922 the palace was converted into a museum to showcase mainly the works of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a renowned local painter from Albi. Other works by his contemporaries are also featured, but Toulouse-Lautrec is the main artist on display.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s early works often feature pastoral landscapes or portraits of people from his life. Several rooms are also dedicated to the iconic posters he created later in life, including his famous Moulin Rouge in Paris advertisements, which remain some of his most well-known pieces.

In addition to admiring the artwork, you can also appreciate the architecture and design of the bishop’s palace, which still retains much of its original style.

Hours: May-October: 10am-6pm every day; November-April: 10am-12:30pm, 2pm-6pm, closed Monday
Entrance Fee: €10

3. Jardins du Palais

The gardens of the Palais de la Berbie are absolutely stunning and were probably my favorite part of the visit. While you can’t walk through the gardens themselves, you can stroll along the top of the surrounding wall, which is lined with vine-covered trellises, overlooking the formal garden.

From here, you’ll also enjoy fantastic views of the palace behind you and the river to the side. Be sure to take the time to admire these beautiful gardens!

While the gardens are technically part of the palace and museum, they are a separate attraction with a separate entrance.

Hours: 8:30am-6:15pm
Cost: Free

4. Saint Selvi Church

Saint Salvi Church is the oldest church in Albi, built near the tomb of Saint Salvi, who served as the city’s bishop in the 500s.

Coming from a powerful regional family, Salvi chose to dedicate his life to God and became a respected leader. He defended the town, paid ransoms to free townspeople taken prisoner, and provided aid to the poor and needy.

The church itself is a classic example of Gothic architecture, with a memorial to Albi’s fallen soldiers of World War I on one of the side walls.

Be sure to visit the adjacent cloisters, a peaceful garden courtyard surrounded by a covered arched passageway. Built in 1270, the cloisters were partially destroyed during the Revolution but remain an important part of the site. You can access them through a side door of the church.

5. Échappée Verte

This is a charming walking path along the Tarn River, a little over a mile long. We were surprised by how pretty this path was – abundant greenery, tall trees, and of course the peaceful river, made it a delightful place to spend a few minutes (we did not walk the whole path, instead focusing on the area just below the Bishop’s Palace).

It is easily accessible via a staircase on Quai Choiseul east of the palace and another west of the palace at Place de la Trebaille.

6. Pont Vieux

The Pont Vieux is the oldest bridge in Albi, constructed in Albi’s iconic red brick and spanning the Tarn River, connecting both sides of the town. This is the closer of the two bridges in the picture above.

The bridge was built in the 11th century to allow the transport and trade of wine, grain, animals, and hemp in Albi.

Over time, small houses were built on the bridge, with passageways running through them. These homes were occupied by artisans who traded with travelers crossing the bridge. During the Revolution, the houses were destroyed, leaving behind the open bridge you see today.

7. Viewpoints

The best viewpoints of Albi are from the Pont Vieux or just across the Tarn River in the Madeleine district. Once considered a “poorer neighborhood” and a medieval suburb of Albi, the Madeleine district is now just as charming as the Old Town.

From this side of the river, you can enjoy stunning views of Albi’s iconic red-brick architecture, including the cathedral and the bishop’s palace, framed by the river below. Truly, the views are spectacular and one of the best things to do in Albi!

We walked up and down the river in the Madeleine district looking for the absolute best viewpoint. We think the best spot is in the square right in front of the Laperouse Museum – it’s a great angle with the bridge right in front of the Old Town (pinned here). This is the picture above.

However, we also did enjoy the more straight-on view from this spot, as well.

8. Musée Lapérouse

The Lapérouse Museum is a small but fascinating tribute to the French sailor and explorer Jean-François de Galaup, Count of Lapérouse. Commissioned by King Louis XVI in the mid-1700s, Lapérouse set out to circumnavigate the globe.

His journey came to a mysterious end when he was lost at sea, and his fate remained unknown until the mid-1800s, when his shipwreck was discovered off the coast of Australia.

Despite his untimely end, Lapérouse’s expedition was significant. He charted new maps and courses, made contact with various cultures, and sent back goods and detailed reports to Europe. His letters and journal entries were regularly published in newspapers, allowing the public to follow his remarkable journey.

The museum does an excellent job showcasing his adventures, with exhibits detailing his route, what he encountered, and the significance of his work. It features models of his ships, replicas of tools and equipment, and a variety of maps that bring his story to life.

Hours: varies by season: Nov-Feb 10-12, 2-5, closed Monday; March- June, Sept-Oct 9-12, 2-6, closed Mon; July-August 9-12:30, 2-6:30, open every day
Cost: €4

9. Parc Rochegude

This large park on the southern end of town is beautiful, calm, and has several different themed “gardens” that include hedges, flowers, statues, a small waterfall, formal gardens, and lawn space.

Hours: April-September 8:30am-8pm, October-March 8:30am-6pm

10. Place Savène and Place du Chateau

These two small squares are just to the west of the cathedral and are nice, quick stops as you are exploring Albi.

Place Savène is a charming hidden square surrounded by quaint homes in the middle of the oldest neighborhood in Albi.

Place du Chateau is just a little bit beyond Place Savene and has a view of the train bridge, a view over the Tarn River, a #Albi sign for photos, a small fountain, and a fun view of the cathedral tower framed in by the streets.

11. Walk Through Town

Finally, while we’ve discussed this a bit already, it’s worth calling out how charming and beautiful the red, brick streets of Albi are! Definitely plan to walk around around town and explore the quaint backstreets during your visit to Albi.

Map of Attractions in Albi

How Much Time Do You Need in Albi?

One day is a perfect amount of time to visit Albi, and you could even compress your visit into half a day if you really need to and just hit a few of the high points on this list.

Albi is just 1 hour north of Toulouse, so many people choose to visit it as a day trip from Toulouse. However, Albi would also make for a fantastic home base as you explore more of Occitanie, including some of the following nearby spots:

Carcassonne: For the biggest Medieval walled city in Western Europe
Chateaux de Lastours: For 4 ruined castles on a hilltop
Toulouse: For vibrant city life and beautiful brick streets
Rocamadour: For a perched pilgrimage sanctuary on the side of a cliff
Cordes-sur-Ciel: For an adorable perched village

Final Thoughts

Albi was such a delightful surprise for us! It offers beautiful, distinctive architecture, stunning vistas, peaceful natural spaces, and interesting history. It had just the right amount of bustle while retaining old-world charm. You won’t regret including this beautiful city on your next French vacation.