The first humansettlement in Albi was in theBronze Age (3000-600BC). After theRoman conquest ofGaul in 51 BC, the town becameCivitas Albigensium, the city of the Albigeois.
TheCathars had their main centre at Albi and so they were known also asAlbigens after the city. The Cathar movement was a branch of Christianity which was persecuted in theMiddle Ages. Because of this, the city was almost completely destroyed in acrusade between 1209 and 1229. Since 1678, the city is the seat of anarchbishop. Since 1790, it is thecapital city of the Tarn department.
Albi is in southern France, in the centre of the Tarn department. TheTarn flows through the city and splits it in two; thehistorical city is on the left side of the river. Several small rivers,tributaries of the Tarn, flows also through the city.
It has an area of 44.26 km2 (17.09 sq mi) and its averagealtitude is 169 m (554 ft); at thecity hall, the altitude is 174 m (571 ft).[2]
The climate of Albi is an oceanic climate with template summers,Cfb (Marine West Coast Climate) in theKöppen climate classification.[3]
The average temperature for the year in Albi is 13.4 °C (56.1 °F). The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F). The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 5.4 °C (41.7 °F).
The highest recorded temperature in Albi is 41.4 °C (106.5 °F), which was recorded in August. The lowest recorded temperature in Albi is −20.4 °C (−4.7 °F), which was recorded in January.
The average amount ofprecipitation for the year in Albi is 1,023.6 mm (40.3 in). The month with the most precipitation on average is November with 101.6 mm (4.0 in) of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is July with an average of 66 mm (2.6 in).
St. Cecile´scathedral is built like afortress, in agothic style. The cathedral is built in a very special style. Inside, there arefrescoes from theRenaissance, worth a visit.
The cathedral has walls which are up to 6 m (20 ft) thick. This makes it the biggestbrick building in the world.
There is a museum dedicated toHenri de Toulouse-Lautrec in the city. De Touluose-Lautrec was born in the city. There are also paintings of other people in the museum.
_North_views_of_the_Ste_C%25C3%25A9cile_Cathedral_and_the_Old_Bridge.jpg)
.svg)
_Bell_tower_of_the_Ste_C%25C3%25A9cile_Cathedral_-_West_exposure.jpg)
_Cit%25C3%25A9_%25C3%25A9piscopale_d%2527Albi_-_Le_palais_de_la_Berbie_et_la_cath%25C3%25A9drale_Ste_C%25C3%25A9cile.jpg)
_Eglise_Sainte-Marie-Madeleine_vue_du_second_niveau_du_Palais_%25C3%25A9piscopal.jpg)
_Palais_de_la_Berbie_-_Jardin_ancienne_place_d%2527arme.jpg)
