Albi



         


RégionMidi-Pyrénées
DépartementTarn
Population (1999)49 106 inhabitants
Area44.26 km²
Arrondissement23 cantons
170 communes
164 990 inhabitants
Cantonscapital of 6 cantons
(18 communes,
67 728 habitants)


Albi (population 50,000) is a city in southern France. It is the préfecture (capital) of the Tarn département, and is located on the Tarn River.

The city was founded by the Roman Empire, and was then known as Albiga. The Albigensians, 12th and 13th century heretics, got their name from this city.

Among the known monuments of the town are the Sainte Cécile basilica, world largest brick construction, and the Old Bridge (Pont Vieux) still in use today after a millennium of existence.

Painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born in Albi.

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