Albi

Geography

Localization

Situation

Prefecture of the Tarn, Albi is located on the Tarn close to the Vignoble S of Gaillac, of the plate twisted and the Forêt of Grésigne. The commune is located at the center of the department between the Aquitanian Bassin and the Massif Central. The department presents the aspect of an amphitheater of plates and hills inclined towards south-west. In the east of Albi, the first plates of low altitude form the buttresses of the Causses. In south-east, some medium mountainss, reaching the 1300 m of altitudes, form a barrier: Mounts of Lacaune, mount of the Sidobre and the Black Mountain. In the north of Albi, altitude exists a basic plate called the Ségala.

Its surface is 4.226 ha and its average altitude is of 174 Mr. Albi is located 80 km of Toulouse, 3 hours of the the Pyrenees and 2 hours of the Mediterranean. The closest cities are: Castrate, Toulouse, Mazamet, Graulhet, Lavaur, Gaillac, Montauban, Rodez and Carmaux.

Hydrology and Geology

The river of the Tarn crosses the town of Albi. It is the third affluent of the the Garonne after the the Dordogne and the Lot. It takes its source with the Mont Lozere, crosses the Gorges of the Tarn then reached Albi by the east. The Tarn forms an outer loop separating into two the city. The historical center being located on left bank of the river. It crosses the city to the foot of the Rempart S and continues its race towards south-west to throw itself in the Garonne. The river is navigable from the Garonne. It made it possible to ensure the trade of the wine of Gaillac, the Chanvre and the Pastel thanks to Gabarre S flat-bottomed. The Tarn was a long time an important component of Albigensian industry thanks to the power and to the regularity of its flow.

Climate

The city profits from a soft moderate climate in autumn, with generally rainy and wet springs and rather hot and dry summers. The annual average temperature is of 14,9 °C, the annual average sunning is 2.480 hours and precipitations annual averages are of 97 days. The extremes were recorded with -20,4 °C on January 16th 1985 and with 40,8 °C on August 12th 2003. The Brouillard is often present along the valley of the Tarn. The commune is touched little by the winds with 25 days of wind on average per annum. The wind of Autan touches particularly the department of the Tarn but it is not very present in Albi contrary with Castres and in the Sidobre where the wind blows 50 days per annum and up to 90 days on causse of Labruguière.

Tableau comparative of the weather data of Albi and some françaises cities

Transportation transport and routes

Albi is located on the axis of communication between Toulouse and Rodez. The highway 68 gives access Albi south-west from Toulouse. It transforms into Trunk road 88 with the approach of Albi. This same trunk road 88 continues in the North-East towards Rodez in Aveyron. The principal network is also supplemented by the Trunk road 112 which gives access south-east Castres then Carcassonne via Mazamet. On the district distributers, secondary road 999 leaves to the east in direction Millau while crossing the Regional natural park the Large Causses. In the North-West, the secondary road 600 joined Cord-on-Sky then Saint-Antonin-Noble-Valley and finally Caussade in the Tarn-et-Garonne. Albi is located at 789 km of Paris, 79 km of Toulouse, 490 km of Barcelona and 320 km of Gérone.

Albi has two railway stations: Albi city and Albi Madeleine . The principal line is the railway line Toulouse - Rodez which also passes to Carmaux. Several secondary lines are closed today. It is the case of the railway line Tournemire - Albi which was never finished. The part Albi Saint-Juéry open in 1899 and is closed on February 12th, 2001. Albi was also connected by the railroads to Castelnaudary between 1865 and 1987 and was managed at the beginning by the Compagnie of the railroads of the South.

Albi has its Aérodrome, the aerodrome of Albi it Séquestre, located at 3 km in the south-west of the city. It is managed by the mixed trade-union of the aerodrome of Albi. It failed to close in July 2005 for lack of traffic and it not will to invest by increasing the length of the single track created in 1974. The aerodrome does not serve any more Paris, nor other destinations. Its proximity with Toulouse the direct met in competition. In 2004, the aerodrome accommodated: 4262 passengers.

Albi has an urban grid system called “Albibus”.

Site

The site on which the city was established finds on a headland dug by the river of the Tarn.

Urban morphology

Albi is delimited by twelve district S formed by taking account of the feeling of membership expressed by the inhabitants, of the history of Albi and urban and geographical characteristics. In north are the districts Breuil-Mazicou, Madeleine and Cantepau, in the south, Rayssac-Veyrières-Rantiel and Lude-Bellevue, in the center, the Large-Center, in the west, the Western districts, Pointe Enough, and in the east, the Swimming pool and the Plain of Gô, Renaudié, Viscose, Lapanouse-Saint-Martin, Jarlard it Peyroulié and Marranel it Roc.

Town planning

Housing

Albi counted: 24472 residences in 1999 for: 51800 inhabitants is approximately 2,1 people per dwelling. The new buildings are not very present and housing stock is rather old since 65% of the main homes were built before 1974. Constructions former to 1949 account for even 26% % of the park.

89,2% of the residences are main homes, distributed with 57,2% in houses and 42,8% in apartments (respectively 68,2% and 31,8% in the area). Albi thus has many multifamily apartments. 48,5% of the inhabitants are owners of their housing, against 47,5% which are only tenants (respectively 58,9% and 35,6% in the area).

It should be noted that with 3.083 residences HLM of the park in 1999 (8,5% in the area) is 14,1%, the city does not respect the provisions of article 55 of the law solidarity and urban renewal (SRU) of December 2000 fixing at 20% the minimum rate of social housing for the most important communes. One can note moreover that the number of vacant housings was rather important in 1999 with 8,4% of the park compared with only 7,5% in the area.

The majority of the dwellings have 4 parts (60,4%), or 3 parts (18,4%), then 2 parts (11,9%). The small residences remain very few (studios: 9,4%). The city has consequently residences of important size because of nonrestricted real space, allowing great constructions, and because of weak demand for small residences. Finally it should be specified that these residences are well equipped since 94,6% have the central heating and 64,3% have a garage, box or carpark (respectively 80% and 66,6% for the area).

Project of installation

At the beginning of the 21e century, the city knows a vast building site of embellishment. Many public places and many streets were rehabilitated and renovated in the architectural respect of the city. Thus, the city has invests in a new cultural center with the Médiathèque Pierre Amalric. The Place of Vigan in the middle of the downtown area was renovated and is from now on completely pedestrian. The market hall was renovated in order to become a place of exchange and communication. Lastly, the place Saint-Cecile was entirely reconsidered for the public.

The peripheral of Albi east in the course of doubling. She circumvents is city by the driving major axis with Toulouse in the south and Rodez in north. Since February 2007, work allowed the installation of the bridges of the by-pass and the installation of walls anti-noises. The south of the by-pass, the expressway Albi-Marssac, was arranged to join a68 highway towards Toulouse. Only the exchanger of Terssac is still in work. The end of work is planned for the beginning of the year 2009.

Etymology

The name of Albi would have two origins. One would come from Alp which is a prefix which indicates a escarpé place or a oppidum, while the other origin would be Albius which was the name of a notable Roman who lived in Albi at the time Roman. Another assumption is alba (white in Latin) of the cliffs limestones surrounding the city. One notes also the orthography (out-of-date) of Alby .

Blazon and Currency

History

Origins

The first men are installed on the edges of the Tarn attracted by the proximity of water and the abundance of many rollers. They leave behind them many stones cut like of double-side, scrapers or choppers. Then remainders of objects in Bronze then in Fer are found in the surroundings of Albi. A workshop of founder is discovered close the natural oppidum of Castelviel. The Tarn is navigable starting from Albi from where the installation of the first men in this area. Moreover, the site is close to fertile valleys and the exploitable mining richnesses. During second half of the 4th century before J. - C., the Ruthène S, of Gallic, created a broad field corresponding to the future dioceses of Albi and Rodez.

In -120, the area is invaded by the Roman , but the romanisation is weak and Albi preserves its character of small Gallic city. The wearing of Albi becomes a place of exchange and transit of many goods and travellers. The Agriculture remains all the same the major economy of the city. About the Year Millet, Albi entered the stronghold of the family Trencavel, the lords of Ambialet. The city was however stronghold ecclesiastical, but as Trencavel was always bishop, the family used about it like sound well.

With 12th and 13th centuries, Albi was a center of establishment of the religious movement Cathare; besides a controversy which was held to with it gave to Cathares the nickname of Albigensian (those which defend the doctrines defended in Albi). The heresy progresses quickly and the various missions and preachings of the priests of the Catholic church do not prevent its rise. The Catharisme is violently repressed at the time of the crusade against the Albigensians. Albi however passed in the catholic camp without resistance; the count of Toulouse, Raymond Roger de Trencavel, loses his stronghold in 1209 at the time of the catch of Carcassonne. Thereafter the construction of the strengthened episcopal palate of Berbie and the imposing cathedral Holy-Cecile anchored the city in the bosom of the church. The bishops wanted to mark the capacity of the Church thanks to these new buildings. The city is also an important arts center known by its Scriptorium. It made it possible to copy texts and books of the lithurgic life.

At the 14th century, the structure of the city changes in an important way. It is divided into six districts, or trowels surrounded by Muraille S. the Pont-Vieux is strengthened at the same time side of the suburb and city, with a Pont-levis at each end. It is surmounted houses with in its center a vault dedicated to the Virgin. Plassa is the heart of the city located at the foot of the cathedral. In the suburbs the mills and the tanneries are.

Rebirth at the XVIIe century

The time of the Renaissance is marked by prosperity thanks to the culture of the Pastel. The area became the land of plenty. Many middle-class men quickly become rich and influential in the life of the city. It is the time of the construction of many residences and private mansions still visible nowadays in the streets of Albi. The Enjalbert house, the Gorsse hotel and the hotel of Reynès are good examples of the architecture of this period. It is characterized by the exclusive use of the brick for the walls and of the stone for the corbellings and the entourages of doors and windows.

In 1474, Louis d' Amboise is named bishop of Albi. He is an important character because he was ambassador of France with Rome then to advise of the king Louis XI and general Lieutenant of the province of Languedoc. He is at the origin of the installation of Neumeister which was a Master-printer originating in Mayenne and collaborator of Gutenberg. It was one of the first workshops of printers of France after that of Paris and Lyon.

At the 16th century, new disorders appear and the Calvinisme emerges to France in 1540. February 25th, 1560, Albi organizes a great expiatory procession and Catherine de Médicis, regent with part of 1560, names with the episcopal see his/her cousin Laurent Strozzi. It is then in responsibility of defend the city against the Protestants. The Massacre of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (August 24th, 1572 in Paris) was repeated in Albi on October 5th, and gave place to settlings of score. Albi adheres to the Sainte League which is a political sling. in 1593, is held the States of the League in the presence of the duke of Merry. The palate of berbie becomes a fortified town armed until 1598, date on which the League disappears with the nomination from Henry IV like King de France.

The 17th century is one period of economic retreat for Albi and its area. The pastel is in lose speed and the city seeks new economic outlets. The glassmaking, the tannery and weaving are important activities but the city does not manage to return at the last level of prosperity. Several briquetteries settled in periphery and provide construction material of the city. The economic context the day before the French revolution in 1789 is particularly difficult.

XVIIIe and XIXe century

With the Revolution, Albi lost a time its driving role with the profit of Castres while becoming the chief town of the new department of the Tarn in 1790. But Castres was considered to be not very sure by the republicans, who ended up fleeing it to take refuge in Albi. Albi ends up becoming chief town in 1797, after a short hegemony castraise. The goods of the clergy are sold and Carmelite friars brood it becomes the current law courts and that of Cordeliers is transformed into prison. The palate of Berbie becomes the seat of the departmental administration until 1823. In 1794, the files of the clergy are burned on the place of Vigan.

At the XVIIIe century, the marquis de Solages, lord of Carmaux, tried one of the first industrial extractions of coal in France. He obtained the authorization to build a railway line horse-drawn to Albi. Thus was born the suburb from the Madeleine.

The railroad arrives at Albi in 1864. A second bridge, the current New Bridge, is built on the Tarn as well as a viaduct for the train. The metallurgy is established with the Jump of the Tarn involving the appearance of specialized foundries. But the most known activity is the Verrerie, founded in 1896 in working co-operative thanks to the assistance of Jean Jaurès. The Chapellerie is also an important industry of Albi, placing it among the first of France at the 19th century.

Since the XXe century

During the Second world war, the inhabitants of the city underwent an episode of the Régime of Vichy, there was a Center of gathering from abroad. Little before the Release, a German column tried to pass the Tarn, while coming from the Madeleine. Resistant local and foreign (much Pole and Spaniards) delivered a fierce combat on the Pont-Neuf before having to take down. A war memorial always points out their action.

Nowadays, Albi is a promising pole of innovation with the school of the mines of Albi Carmaux (research on solar energy, the cars and the fuels clean). The city proposes its natural assets (pleasant climate and landscapes) and cultural to develop the country holidays, which are expanding. In addition, the city makes sustained efforts to improve and be embellished: the place of Vigan, like, very recently, that of the Cathedral, were entirely remade, with the greatest happiness of the inhabitants and tourists.

Administration

Albi is the prefecture of the department of the Tarn since 1797. It is also the chief town of six cantons:

the canton of Albi-Center is made of part of Albi (11 772 inhabitants);
the canton of Albi-Is made of part of Albi and commune of Fréjairolles (10 419 inhabitants);
the canton of Albi-North-Is made of part of Albi and communes of Arthès, Garric and Lescure-with Albigensian (11 725 inhabitants);
the canton of Albi-North-West is made of part of Albi and communes of Cagnac-the-Mines, Castelnau-with-Lévis, Mailhoc, Milhavet, Holy-Cross and Villeneuve-on-Vère (11 570 inhabitants);
the canton of Albi-West is made of part of Albi and communes of Marssac-on-Tarn and Terssac (9 836 inhabitants);
the canton of Albi-South is made of part of Albi and communes of Carlus, Puygouzon, Rouffiac, Saliès and the Sequestration (12 406 inhabitants).

Albi is the pillar of the Communauté of agglomeration of the Albigensian who, created in 2003, gathers 17 communes today.

Municipal council and political tendencies

The Municipal council of Albi east made up of forty-three members, of which the mayor, Philippe Bonnecarrère, and twelve assistant. The mayor is also the president of the Communauté of agglomeration of the Albigensian, the general adviser Albi-Is and the secretary of the French federation of the Mayors of the Medium-sized cities. Moreover, one municipal council of the children is made of 43 pupils of classes of CM1 and CM2.

Politically, Albi is a town of right-hand side since the election of Philippe Bonnecarrère in 1995. However, the preceding mayor was of left and the presidential elections of 2002 and 2007 show a light preference for the left-wing candidates.

With the presidential election of 2002, the first turn saw arriving at the head Lionel Jospin with 20,51%, followed Jacques Chirac with 19,95%, then of Jean-Marie Le Pen with 14,55% and finally Francois Bayrou with 6,65%, then Jean-Pierre Chevènement with 6,03%, No5el Mamère with 5,91% and Arlette Laguiller with 5,06%, no other candidate not exceeding the threshold of the 5%. With the second turn, the voters voted to 86,74% for Jacques Chirac against 13,26% for Jean-Marie Le Pen with a rate of abstention from 15,72%, result higher than the national tendencies (respectively 82,21% and 17,79%; abstention 20,29%) with however four additional points for Jacques Chirac.

With the referendum on the constitutional treaty for Europe of May 29th, 2005, the Albigensians voted against the European Constitution, with 52,61% of Not against 47,39% of Yes with a rate of abstention from 26,7% (whole France: Not to 54,67%; Yes to 45,33%). These figures are lower than the departmental tendency of the Tarn (Not to 59,21%; Yes to 40,79%) and slightly lower than the average of the department showing the rural character of the department and its small town, the electorate having chosen the positive vote being, according to the political analysts, the fact of a economically more privileged population and more an high level of education.

With the presidential election of 2007, the first turn saw dissociating at the head Ségolène Royal with 29,30%, followed by Nicolas Sarkozy with 26,95%, Francois Bayrou with 18,78%, Jean-Marie Le Pen with 10,58%, then Olivier Besancenot with 3,94%, no other candidate not exceeding the threshold of the 2%. The second turn saw arriving at the head Ségolène Royal with 50,71% (national: 46,94%) against 49,29% for Nicolas Sarkozy (national result: 53,06%). The victory with the first turn and the second tower of the left in Albi indicates that the inhabitants of the city are rather favorable to left-wing policies.

Mayors of Albi

Budget and taxation

At the time of the vote of the budget the primitive main thing 2007, the section of operation presented was assembled to the sum of 74.189.135 € and the section investment presented was assembled to 47.633.038 € (both balanced in expenditure and receipts). The budget for operation is used mainly by the general administration of the community (18,3%) and by teaching (13%). Concerning the budget for the investment, they are the network and road works which use 16,4% of the budget followed by the urban development with 12,3%. Albi tries cause a drop in its rate of debt while passing from 5,02% in 2002 to 3,95% in 2007.

The four taxes of 2006 were voted by the municipal council of Albi for rates of: 14,31% for the Tax of dwelling, 26,90% for the Real estate tax built, 91,25% for the real estate tax not built, and 22,5% for the Professional tax (inter-commune rate). The departmental rates were respectively the same year of 8,45%,18,39%,62,83% and 14,86%. This taxation is much higher than the departmental average. These rates are with rather similar to Castres with respectively 17,92%,34,87%,91,18% and 20,16% and are explained by the fact why the essence of the population and the improvement of land of the department are in these two cities.

The rate of the tax of dwelling of 13,75% in 2003 and 14,31% 2006 like the other taxes has been maintained for several years. The common one succeeded in maintaining the rate of its taxes.

Safety

The rate of criminality of the district of police force of Albi east of 60,61 acts for 1000 inhabitants (crimes and offenses, figures 2005) what makes some highest of the department of the Tarn, but lower than the national average (83/1000). This rate is lower than the rate of criminality of the area the Midday-Pyrenees (85,46/1000). This rate is of course very largely lower than great agglomerations like Toulouse (111,49/1000) or Montauban (91,56/1000). The rate of resolution of the businesses by the police services is of the 30,11%, weakest of the department but near to the averages regional (28,25%) and main road (28,76%). These rates of crimes and offenses are explained by the proximity of Toulouse contrary to Rodez more distant, more rural and which records lower rates (39,2/1000)

Twinning

There exists a twinning between Albi and the town of Gérone in Spanish Catalogne since June 9th, 1985, as well as a twinning with Palo Alto in California, city often indicated as being the cradle of the Silicon Valley. The city maintains also a cooperation agreement decentralized since 2004 with Abomey, city of the Bénin whose historical museum is registered with the world heritage of UNESCO and who is the historical capital of the kingdom of the Dahomey.

Population and Company

Demography

The town of Albi counted: 46274 inhabitants with the last census of INSEE in 1999 what places it at the 122e national row. In 2006, the population was evaluated with: 48100 inhabitants. Albi is the most populated city Département of the Tarn followed Castres (: 43496 hab) whose population equalizes almost that of Albi. The communes of Graulhet have: 12663 inhabitants, of Gaillac: 11073 inhabitants, of Mazamet: 10544 and Carmaux: 10231. The density of the commune is of: 1046 hab/km ². It densément is also densément populated department. Castrate having only one density of 269 hab/km ². But this density is largely lower than cities like Toulouse (: 3299 hab/km ²), Montpellier (: 3965 hab/km ²) or Perpignan (: 1544 hab/km ²). It is also the the most populated urban Aire department with 85.960 inhabitants covering 44 communes before Castres (: 61760 hab) and Mazamet (: 26186 hab).

Evolution of the population 1794-1999

Demographic table of the 20th century

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Population pyramid

The city knows some differences compared to the population pyramid of the area the Midday-Pyrenees. The shares of the 15-29 years and the 30-44 years are represented with 22,3% and 19,5% in 1999 (respectively: 19,7 and 22,1% for area has). The Albigensian population is thus relatively younger than the remainder of the area. The elderly are represented little with 9,2% in 1999 as in the remainder of the area (7,4%).

Teaching

Secondary education gathers several colleges. Three public lycées are present in Albi with the College Bellevue, the Lycée Lapérouse where Jean Jaurès taught, and where Pompidou studied, the Lycée Louis Rascol. It has also two private colleges: the Amboise College and the College Holy-Cecile. Lastly, Albi has also two public vocational schools, the deprived Rascol College and College Toulouse-Lautrec and two, the College Holy-Cecile and the Holy College Dominique. The Albi-Fonlabour agricultural college offers also a teaching specialized in Agriculture.

Albi is also a small university center with: 3790 students in 2006. The University center Jean-François Champollion, created on the site of an old barracks, with an aim of decentralizing the university offer of Toulouse. This faculty is supplemented by the École des Mines of Albi-Carmaux, created in 1992 on the initiative of the Ministry for the Industry, whose teaching is turned towards the equipment for the industrial processes, with the interface between the genius of the processes, the mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and the industrial engineering.

Health

Albi is the principal seat of the hospitals of the Tarn. It has an hospital and two private clinics: the private clinic Claude Bernard and the private clinic Toulouse Lautres. It has also the foundation Bon Saver Alby, a private center which takes part in the hospital public service.

Media

Albi has the local antenna of France 3 Tarn. The principal newspaper is the dispatch of midday but local newspapers as the free Tarn are diffused in Albi. In addition to the national radio stations, Albi receives local chains as Radio Albigès and RCF Pays Tarnais, radio operator hundred percent.

Events

August 1st

Sport

The club of Rugby to XV of the Sporting Club Albigensian belongs to the Top 14 since 2006, elite of French Rugby. The Albigensians evolve/move with the having municipal stadium: 12000 places. The SCA profits from the support of a faithful public with an average of spectators exceeding them: 10000 people per match. This faithful public allowed certainly him to be maintained by taking down a very honourable 9th place, whereas many journalists condemned the " yellows and noirs" with the immediate descent. During the season 2006-2007, the SCA will have made makes watch of the power of its package of fronts, in particular thanks to its first line. With a play largely centered on the physical power, the SCA will have shown the solidity of a group, able to be exceeded to gain many matches, in particular in residence (21-18 vis-a-vis Bourgoin, 16-7 vis-a-vis USAP, 13-13 vis-a-vis the Stade Toulousain).

To thirteen, the Racing Club Albi XIII finds the elite (2007), the Championnat of France of Rugby to XIII. The club which divides municipal Stadium with the quinzists counts 5 championships of France (1938, 1956, 1958, 1962, 1977).

At the female ones, the WORN Albi Volley-Ball also plays more national high level, the Pro F.

The principal football club of the city is the US Albi which uses the Stade Maurice Rigaud in Championnat of France Amateurs. The Albigensians finished in 2006-2007 in the 2nd place of their group of CFA, behind Rodez.

The city is rather well equipped out of sports equipment. It has six stages of which the municipal Stadium and the Stade Maurice Rigaud, four general sports rooms, two bases of leisures in Pratgraussals and Cantepau as well as the nautical base of Canavière. The city has also a road racing set of: 3 546 meters conceived for motor bike and formula III. Lastly, a course of Golf, the Golf Albi Lasbordes, borders the Tarn dominated by the Cathedral Holy-Cecile over 60 hectares.

Personalities related to the commune

Albi was the fatherland of several historical characters like:

Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières, born on May 20th, 1815 in Albi, dead on February 16th, 1895 in Paris, was an engineer and military French.
Jean-François Galaup of Perugia, born on August 23rd, 1741 close to Albi and died in 1788, was a famous naval officer, navigator and explorer. It directs a forwarding around the world aiming at supplementing the discoveries of James Cook in the Pacific Ocean. It disappears with the remainder from the crew in 1788 with Vanikoro, the Solomon Islands.
Henri Pascal de Rochegude, born in Albi in 1741, navigator, it takes part in a voyage of exploration.
Louis-Casimir Teyssier, born in Albi August 25th, 1821, was a Militaire French.
Henri, Adrien, Barthelemy, Louis Rieunier, originating in Albi born in Castelsarrasin in 1833: because of the change of his/her father teaching in Albi, like the main thing of college, died in Albi in 1918: admiral, Minister for the navy (1893), appointed of Rochefort (1898-1902), Grand Cross of the Legion of honor, military medal-holder. Pioneer of Japan and the Far East, commander-in-chief of the squadron of the Western Mediterranean and Raising and the 1st Naval army, etc

But also of the more or less famous politicians like:

Georges Pompidou, President of the French Republic of 1969 to 1974, made there its studies until the baccalaureat.
Jean Jaurès taught the philosophy of 1881 to 1883 with the Lapérouse College, where a room is dedicated to him.
Gerard Onesta is French Politician group of the Greens, born on August 5th, 1960 in Albi.

And still of the artists like:

Henri of Toulouse-Lautrec, born on November 24th, 1864 in Albi, was a famous French painter. The Toulouse-Lautrec museum of Albi gathers the whole of its work.
Atmen Kelif (of its true name Athmane Khelif), French actor born on April 1st 1968
Pierre Mondy, French actor, is a former student of the Lapérouse college.
Casimir Ferrer, painter-sculptor of international repute

Or finally of the writers like:

François Sudre, born in Albi in 1787, deceased in Paris in 1862, is a French author.
Pierre Benoit born on July 16th, 1886 in Albi and dead on March 3rd, 1962 with Ciboure (Yrénées-Atlantiques), is a French writer, famous author of " Atlantide" in 1919.
Michel Folco is a French writer born in Albi on September 23rd, 1943.
Michel Henry, Philosopher and Novelist French.
Claude Boyer, Preacher and Poet French.

and of the sportsmen like:

Romain Mesnil, born in Albi in June 1977, pole vaulter, medal-holder of money in 2006.

Economy

Era of coal in the Carmaux-Albi basin, there still remains of the traces like VOA and the thermo plant EDF Pélissier , old outlets of coal, just like the locality the Jump of the Tarn .

Since the years 1990, the University center Jean-François Champollion, born from the regrouping of the antennas of the three Toulouse universities (Mirail, Social sciences and the UPS) in 2002, and the École des Mines of Albi-Carmaux support the city located in the middle of the area the Midday-Pyrenees. Albi is the second economic pole of the area with 14 zones of activities arranged in the agglomeration on more than 250 hectares.

To also note: the influence of the pharmaceutical laboratories Pierre Fabre, and of the subcontractors for the airframe manufacturer Airbus, who instigate the area.

Albi is the seat of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Albi Carmaux - Gaillac. It manages CFA, the airport of Albi, the industrial parks of Jarlard, Fonlabour, Garric, Montplaisir.

Employment

The Agriculture is represented very little among Albigensian employment with 0,80%. Industry and construction represent also little employment with respectively 10,95% and 4,98% of employment. The tertiary sector gathers practically the totality of employment with a rate of 83,28%. The rate of Albigensian having followed higher learning is of 19,8%, against 18,1% on average in Metropolitan France. The rate of Chômage is approximately 9,8% (estimate 2005), that is to say slightly higher than the national average (9,6%), and the average revenue by household is approximately 15.158 € per annum (national average: 20.363 € per annum).

Culture and Inheritance

Tourist monuments and places

Albi is rich in historic buildings. The downtown area is remarkably well preserved and has many witnesses of the golden age of Albi. Of old workings are rich in streets with the medieval paces, with the hotels of rebirth and the panoramas on the Tarn and its bridges give to this urban space a character unique in France. The town of Albi tries since 1996 to register its urban center on the world list of the inheritance of UNESCO.

Civil monuments

The old Bridge spans the Tarn since 1035 goes back to its construction. It was several times altered and allowed the urban development on Right Bank with the district of the Madeleine. At the 14th century, it is strengthened and has drawbridges.

Religious monuments

The Palate and gardens of Berbie form with the cathedral the whole of the episcopal city built after the Croisade against the Albigensians. The construction of such a construction makes it possible to protect the bishops from Albi, become the Masters of the city, of the hostilities of the cathares and the middle-class men of Albi. It also makes it possible to be protected from possible external attacks and to reinforce the presence of the Inquisition. The name of Berbie comes from the occitan bisbé which means bishops. At the 13th century, the bishop Bernard de Castanet is the decisive character in the construction of this unit. He makes build the 50 m high keep, the four turns and the walls. He surrounds the palate of curtains and external ramparts to the Tarn.

The Cathédrale Holy-Cecile was built between the 13th century and the 16th century by the bishops of Albi become lords of Albi after the Croisade against the Albigensians. It is a masterpiece of the southernmost Gothic thanks to its single architecture of brick and its interior decoration made up of the vastest whole of Italian paintings carried out in France. The cathedral has important dimensions with 114 meters of length, 35 meters broad and 40 meters in height. The turns of the bell-tower is drawn up with 78 meters in height. The entry is done on the side in the nave and not by the gate of entry under the bell-tower because of the lack of place. The cathedral was restored at the 19th century by the architect César Daly who raised the walls and the buttresses of 7 Mr. Of other modifications were made at the 15th century with the door Dominique of Florence and the porch or baldachin of the 16th century. In 1948, the cathedral is high with the row of Basilique. The place which surrounds the cathedral Holy-Cecile is the place of the same name which was refitted with many spaces pedestrians in 2005.

Collegial Saint-Salvy is the oldest church of Albi raised in the honor of Saint Salvi, the first bishop of Alvi at the 6th century. The whole of construction mixes also the stone and the brick. Its architecture was modified a long time 11th at the 18th century. It has a Cloître 12th century mixing the Romance and Gothic style. It is surrounded by beautiful old houses being used formerly as residence to the canons. The bell-tower is a tower whose Romance base dates from the 11th century and the first stage is Gothic. The top of the tower is overcome by a brick crowning overcome of a watch tower known as tower of the guettor, of pace florentine.

Albi has also a more modern church, the church Sainte Madeleine and an orthodoxe church, the orthodoxe church Saint-Denis.

Museums

The Toulouse-Lautrec Museums is a museum dedicated to works of Henri of Toulouse-Lautrec born in Albi. At the instigation of Maurice Joyant was open in 1922, with the agreement of the family and the countess Alphonse of Toulouse-Lautrec, the Toulouse-Lautrec museum of Albi. Maurice Joyant offered his superb collection of tables to the museum. The first showrooms opens in the palate of Berbie on July 30th, 1922. More than thousand works, tables, lithographies and drawings of Toulouse-Lautrec are exposed to the museum giving him the title of larger museum devoted to the painter. He has the 31 posters are exposed there like more than two hundred lithographies evoking the Belle Time. Thus, the museum recalls the whole of the work of the artist of its first composition on the horses to its last fabric, an examination with the faculty of Paris while passing by major works like With the living room of the street of the Mills . The museum was in work of 2001 to 2004 for better accommodating the public.

Albi has another important museum: the Lapérouse museum. It gathers the collection of the explorer Jean-François de Galaup, count de Lapérouse of the 19th century. The collections make it possible to have an outline of the knowledge of the world before Lapérouse, to the navigator Cook, then after Lapérouse.

Green areas

Albi has many green areas like two bases of leisure. The Lapérouse public garden located on the place of the same name at the south of the city is a small public garden built in homage to Jean-François de Galaup, Count de Lapérouse, a large traveller who has traversed many exotic countries. The National garden is another public garden located at the south of the place of Vigan. It consists of geometrical forms interfering perspective and ways walk. It has a central circular basin and a bandstand. The gardens of the Palate of Berbie are gardens of Renaissance style located around the Palate of Berbie, the old episcopal palate of Albi. They are old gardens in terraces dating from the 12th century. Lastly, the Rochegude park is a park of four hectares having a hotel of the 18th century and a small river. It has also the bust of the Admiral Rochegude.

The city has also two bases of leisures located along the Tarn: The base of leisures of Cantepau and that of Pratgraussals.

The city has four flowers since 2002 decreed by the national jury for fleurissement of France. Since 1997, the municipal services embellish the city thanks to renewed floral compositions each year.

Cultural heritage

Albi has three cinemas: Arcé Athanor, Lapérouse and Tivoli.

The town of Albi has a network of libraries made up of the media library Pierre-Amalric, library of Cantepau and of a médiabus. This network proposes the loan, the consultation of books, reviews, CD, DVD, partitions, plays and puts at disposal of the stations multi-media with connection Internet and free software. Within the media library, a free access WIFI is proposed.

To go further

Internal bonds

List of the bishops and archbishops of Albi

External bonds

Tourist office
Official site of the town hall of Albi
Albi on the site of INSEE
History of the Albigensian
Site of the Pierre-Amalric media library and the public libraries of Albi

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