Département: Tarn
Albi, the chief town of the département of Tarn, lies above the left bank of the river Tarn some 80km/50mi north of Toulouse. Its most striking features are its massive medieval brick buildings, in particular the Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace. Albi is a
commercial and industrial town, with an old-established glass industry.
The town's name is of Celtic origin, and there was a Civitas Albiensium here before the Christian era. After suffering many vicissitudes under the Romans, the Visigoths and the Saracens Albi passed into the hands of Charles the Bald in 843. In the 13th century it gave its name to the Albigensians, a heretical Christian sect (also known as Cathars) which was almost completely wiped out in the Albigensian wars of 1209-1229. Thereafter the country of Alby was annexd by the French king. In 1678 the town became the see of an archbishop. Albi was the birthplace of the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864- 1901).
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