You go in weekend in Occitanie or maybe in road-trip in the South of France and want to visit Albi in 1 day? Well, to discover the must-see attractions of Albi and its episcopal city in 1 day, here is my tour to do on foot to discover the most beautiful sites!

With this walking route (see Google Map below), you will visit all the emblematic monuments of the Episcopal City of Albi but also its medieval heritage and its magnificent bridges. In 1 day, you can visit Albi at a pace that allows you to enjoy the atmosphere of the South and gourmet or gastronomic breaks!

How to visit Albi in 1 day?

Since 2010, UNESCO has recognized the exceptional universal value of Albi, which is classified among the high places of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

And if Albi attracts more and more tourists who visit France, is that its history has left cultural and heritage traces that delight visitors:

• Between 1460 and 1560, Albi, which is located in the heart of the land of plenty, became the capital of the pastel trade. From this time when the city became very rich, Albi has preserved some private mansions which are true marvels!
• At the beginning of the Middle Ages, Albi became the seat of a civitas and a bishopric. This religious role gives political importance to the city. Then In the 12th century, the Catharism which developed in Occitania worried the Papacy. After the Albigensian Crusade, the city remained strong because it was well held in hand by its bishop. It became a powerful episcopal city.
• Albi is also the birthplace of the painter Henri de Toulouse Lautrec in 1964. The city pays homage to him with its Toulouse Lautrec Museum which brings together the most important collection of the painter in the world.

To visit Albi in 1 day, you have 2 possible choices: Book a private tour with a guide or discover the city of Albi in 1 day by yourself. To do this, you can follow my circuit which is done on foot in 1 day at your own pace (see below).

Program and itinerary to visit Albi in 1 day

The tourist office offers several themed circuits to visit Albi on foot (see on the official website of the Tourist Office), but the circuit that I share in this blog only brings together the most remarkable sites in Albi.

Here is the program for your day with the walking route to visit Albi:

• Morning: Walking tour of old Albi
  • Departure from Moulins Albigeois (Vermicellerie d’Albi)
  • The Banks of the Cathedral
  • The old bridge
  • The covered market
  • Hotel de Reynès
  • Hotel de Gorsse
  • The Enjalbert House
  • Old Alby's House
• Afternoon: Walking tour of the Episcopal City and the medieval districts
  • The Collegiate Church of Saint-Salvi
  • Sainte Cécile Cathedral
  • The Palais de la Berbie + Toulouse-Lautrec Museum
  • The Palace Gardens

Map of the Albi tourist circuit on foot

Here is the Google Maps to use in pedestrian GPS mode to follow the walking route of my Albi tourist circuit:

Walking tour of old Albi in the morning

To complete this walking tour in 1 day, it is impossible to visit all the museums, all the mansions and other very interesting sites in Albi. Indeed, if you want to take full advantage of the visits and not do as some of the "rushed" tourism, you have to know how to sacrifice a few visits ...

Here is a summary of the visits to Albi that you can do by following the steps of my itinerary in the morning:

The Albigensian Mills

My tour starts on the banks of the Tarn by the Albi vermicelli factory, also called the Albigensian mills.

It is a former pasta factory which was installed on the site of a 12th century flour mill. Listed as a historic monument, this former water mill now houses the Lapérouse museum and offices of the Departmental Tourism Committee.

The banks of Albi on foot

Then, to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Episcopal City of Albi and the row of bridges of the Tarn, direction Rue Porta. On the "banks of the Cathedral", you will have a rather nice panorama!

The Old Bridge of Albi

Take the Pont Vieux to reach the other bank. It is a magnificent medieval bridge from 1040 with arches and two drawbridges at each end. Classified as a historic monument since 1961, it offers beautiful views of the Palais de la Berbie and the Sainte-Cécile cathedral.

The covered market

Then you will take the direction of Rue Émile Grand to take a short walk in the covered market of Albi. This market was created in 1901 on the model of the Halles de Paris. Its triangular hall was designed by André Michelin.

Every morning, local producers offer local products (pink garlic from Lautrec, ham from Lacaune, farm veal from Lauragais, responchons, cheeses, Tarn truffles, crunchies and shuttles, etc.).

Walking tour of private mansions

The pastel which appeared in France in the 15th century is a natural blue dye which was marketed everywhere in France but also in Europe and England. In Toulouse as in Albi (land of plenty) this blue gold is the wealth of the great pastel merchants who build superb mansions with beautiful interior courtyards.

Hotel de Reynès

From the covered market, you will have to continue on rue Saint Julien and reach rue Timbal where you can admire the Hôtel de Reynès.
Today occupied by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, this 1530 residence is typical of Renaissance mansions that belonged to rich pastel merchants.

Hotel de Gorsse

By taking the rue des Pénitents, you will arrive at Place Henri Gorsse where there is another example of a private mansion: the Gorsse hotel.

Enjalbert House

The Enjalbert house which dates from the 16th century shows what the half-timbered houses of Old Albi were like. The wooden half-timbering and brick form a different decorative marquetry on the two facades. And on one of them, above the gate on the first floor, you will see the little pisser which is a very unique sculpture!

Old Alby's House

In a 3-minute walk, my tourist circuit takes you to visit Old Alby’s House. It is a typical Albigensian house from the medieval period in brick and half-timbered wood. It is one of the oldest residences in old Albi. It had an open-air attic called “Soleilhou” where the pastel was dried.

Walking tour of the Episcopal City in the afternoon

Recognized throughout the world since its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, the episcopal city of Albi is unique in its kind by its size and its famous red bricks.

The Cathedral and the Berbie Palace are among the largest baked-brick buildings in the world.

Manufactured on site, these bricks were made with soil from the bed of the Tarn river.

In fact, these bricks give this city of Albi its own identity but above all an incredible aesthetic with a palette of colors that vary from red to pink and from pink to orange depending on the light and sunshine.

Collegiate Church of Saint-Salvi

The Saint-Salvi Collegiate Church owes its name to the first Bishop of Albi. Located at the corner of Place Sainte-Cécile, this church is one of the largest Romanesque churches in Albigensian. During the visit, climb to the top of the stairs to discover a splendid cloister.

Sainte Cécile Cathedral

The first tourist site visited in the episcopal city of Albi, this Sainte Cecille is the largest brick cathedral in the world (113 m long and 35 m wide).

With its castle-like appearance, its southern Gothic-style architecture amazes and impresses visitors.

Berbie Palace

The Palais de la Berbie (berbie means bishop in Occitan) is therefore the former palace of the bishops of Albi. Its military yet aesthetic architecture shows the power of the bishops of the time.

Toulouse-Lautrec Museum

It is in this magnificent Palais de la Berbie that the Toulouse-Lautrec museum is located. And it is through the main courtyard of the Palace that we can access the museum entrance today.

So you kill 2 birds with one stone:

• You visit the palace with its large vaulted rooms, its medieval pavements, its painted ceilings, its Renaissance gallery, etc.
• You will discover the works of the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Indeed, the museum brings together 31 posters, 219 paintings, 563 drawings and 183 lithographs by the native painter of Albi. Enough to keep you busy for a few hours!

Palace Gardens

To end my tour in style, head to the Gardens of the Palais de la Berbie. Classified as a remarkable garden, it is a place that has incredible charm!

You can take a very pleasant walk there and access the belvedere to enjoy the panoramic view of the banks of the Tarn below, the Pont-Vieux and the Albigensian mills.

Where to stay to visit Albi on foot?

For a successful weekend in Albi, I advise you to take a well-placed accommodation to be able to visit everything on foot!

This is a hotel located in the center of Albi and therefore ideal for a weekend. Indeed, the Hostellerie du Vigan is located just 1 meters from the Sainte-Cécile Cathedral and the Toulouse Lautrec Museum.

With its very low price, it is an excellent choice for those looking for hotel accommodation in Albi. See this hotel in Albi

And to continue in the South of France : My weekend in Marseille - The most beautiful villages of the Gers - Toulouse in 2 days - Romantic weekend in Collioure - Weekend in Bordeaux - Visit Avignon