Extended Weekend in Albi, Tarn

It was in April 2019 that we first discovered, with my favorite photographer, the superb city of Albi located in the Tarn department in Occitanie. The latter takes its name from the Tarn river that runs through it. And Albi is the prefecture of this department, located northeast of Toulouse.

I returned to this beautiful region in May 2022 with my favorite photographer, but also with 2 blogger friends, to visit Albi the Red a bit more and share with you this love for this city with its Italian charm. Then, another stop in the Tarn in May 2024 brought us back once again to the episcopal city. This article is therefore a summary of these three getaways and the discoveries we made there, not to mention my famous selection of great addresses, as I love doing!

Pont Vieux in Albi, view of the city and Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in the Tarn.

Cobbled street in Albi with half-timbered houses and a glimpse of the Cathedral.

View of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi through a brick alleyway.

Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi seen from a wooded embankment with a red brick wall.

Tarn River in Albi, view of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral and the bridge.

Pont-Vieux in Albi crossing the Tarn with boats and red brick houses.

'L'Hirondelle' sightseeing boat sailing on a river near a brick wall.

Two smiling women in front of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi.

Table of Contents

Practical Information for visiting Albi

Getting to Albi from Paris: from the capital, the fastest way is to fly to Toulouse Blagnac airport (there are affordable flights with EasyJet). Once there, it is very easy to rent a car from the airport to travel around the region. For all practical information on the region and the city, I advise you to visit the websites of Tarn Tourisme and Albi Tourisme (links below).

Cast iron manhole cover with crest and text 'EAUX USÉES' (Wastewater).

Three women posing in front of the #ALBI sign with Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in the background.

Tarn Tourisme
Link to the website

Albi Tourisme
Link to the website

What to see and do in Albi?

I must say that I was completely won over from my first visit by the charm of the episcopal city of Albi, which is unlike any other French city I’ve seen (well, based on what I’ve discovered in France so far)! It enchants with its warm colors, its tranquility, and the beauty of its heritage. It is nicknamed Albi the Red or the Purple because of the bricks and tiles that made its reputation. The city has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since July 2010. I went to visit Tuscany in 2019, and I really think this city gives off the same atmosphere as that famous Italian region. The city is also the chief town of the Tarn department and is about an hour’s drive from Toulouse.

I strongly advise you to go for a walk towards the Pont-vieux, especially at the end of the day to enjoy the beautiful light that bathes the city at that time. You can see the fortifications that line the Tarn, as well as the Palais de la Berbie and the imposing Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, a vessel of bricks set above the Tarn. As usual, I also offer you below a small selection of ideas for things to see and do during your stay in Albi.

View of Albi from the Tarn with red brick houses and bell tower.

Pont Vieux of Albi crossing the Tarn with spring foliage in the foreground.

Medieval red brick tower in Albi with a woman in front of a door.

View of Albi over the Tarn with the Pont Vieux and the railway viaduct.

Bridge in the city of Albi in the Tarn with a dam on the river.

Panoramic view of Albi: Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, banks of the Tarn, and townhouses.

Cobbled street in Albi with half-timbered houses and three women looking at the Nadine Granier gallery.

Gothic brick bell tower in Albi with antique lantern in the foreground.

Terrace of the "Au Nom du Père" restaurant on a cobbled square in Albi.

Two cats looking out of a small window in a red brick wall in Albi.

Typical red brick facades in Albi with passersby and cafe terrace.

Visit Sainte-Cécile Cathedral

It is one of the city’s major landmarks! The Cathedral is highly contrasted between the rigor of its defensive exterior architecture and the richness of its interior decoration, with 15th-century paintings and sculptures and 16th-century Italian Renaissance frescoes. It is also the largest brick building in the world!

The cathedral of Albi is considered a masterpiece of Southern Gothic art, but it is also a testament to the Christian faith after the Cathar heresy. It is dedicated to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians. I also recommend visiting the cathedral’s Flamboyant Gothic-style choir (paid visit), which is absolutely magnificent! There, you can notably admire very beautiful stone Burgundian sculptures.

Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi and its massive red brick bell tower.

Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi, side view of the red brick facade.

Exterior of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi in red brick under a blue sky.

Red brick wall of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi seen from a low angle.

Brick Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi, with a tourist train on the square.

Painted and gilded vault of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi, Tarn.

Interior of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi, organ and Last Judgment frescoes.

Gothic interior of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi with choir and painted vault.

Gilded chandelier with lit candles in the Cathedral of Albi.

Richly decorated interior of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi with a woman on the checkered floor.

Interior vault and chandelier of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi.

Sainte-Cécile Cathedral
5 Boulevard Général Sibille, 81000 Albi
Nave with free access, Monday to Wednesday: 9:00 AM / 6:30 PM / Thursday to Saturday: 8:30 AM / 6:30 PM / Sunday: 9:00 AM / 6:00 PM
Rates: entry to the choir: €6 / combined ticket choir + treasure: €6 / free for children under 12
Great tip: the Christophe Moucherel association offers free concerts on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons in July and August

Stroll through the gardens of the Palais de la Berbie

Before or after your visit to the cathedral or the Toulouse Lautrec museum, I advise you to discover the gardens of the Palais de la Berbie (which is the former Bishops’ Palace), installed there by Hyacinthe Serroni, an archbishop who loved plants, at the end of the 17th century. You can access it for free every day from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. By strolling along the old curtain wall, you get a superb panoramic view of the banks of the Tarn and the surrounding hills.

Smiling woman in Albi with a view of the city and the Tarn river.

Woman on the wall near the brick tower and vine arbor, Albi garden.

Antique stone statue with a view of the city of Albi and the Tarn.

French-style garden with wall and brick turret in Albi.

Vine-covered walkway in Albi with a view of the roofs and a tower.

View of Albi from the gardens, with the city and the Tarn river.

Covered walkway in the Jardins du Palais de la Berbie in Albi.

Jardins du Palais de la Berbie, Tarn: view over the roofs of Albi and the bridge over the Tarn.

Gardens of the Palais de la Berbie
Free access
Every day from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Visit the Toulouse Lautrec Museum

It is obviously a must-see if you come to discover Albi! The museum is housed in the former episcopal palace, the Palais de la Berbie, built in the 13th century. The museum presents the largest collection in the world of the Albigensian painter, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Among which are the 31 famous posters by the artist, but also early paintings, portraits, paintings of brothels, posters, lithographs…

The museum route allows you to discover more about the evolution of this atypical and fascinating artist. I was very surprised myself because, in the end, I may have had a slightly false vision of this painter… But obviously, when you visit this museum accompanied by an enthusiast, it’s hard not to be hooked!

Cobbled interior courtyard in red brick building, Albi style.

Cobbled courtyard and red brick buildings in Albi, Tarn.

Interior courtyard of the Palais de la Berbie in Albi with round red brick towers.

Red brick towers of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi, Tarn.

Sculpted gargoyle with human head under a dragon on a brick wall, Albi.

Visitor admiring paintings by Toulouse-Lautrec at the Museum of Albi, Tarn.

Toulouse-Lautrec drawing: Dancer and spectators at the cafe, Albi.

Toulouse-Lautrec drawing, blonde woman and man with top hat, Museum of Albi.

Detail of Toulouse Lautrec poster of dancers' legs at Museum of Albi, Tarn

Drawing of a nude woman in underwear by Toulouse-Lautrec, Museum of Albi.

Moulin Rouge La Goulue poster by Toulouse-Lautrec at the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec Albi.

Framed Toulouse-Lautrec painting, Musée Toulouse-Lautrec Albi.

Oil painting of a white horse head, Musée Toulouse Lautrec Albi

The museum also regularly offers temporary exhibitions, and when we went in 2019, we saw an exhibition on “Alberto Giacometti, from model”, which has now finished.

Expressionist bronze bust exhibited during a visit to Albi.

Visitor looking at bronze sculptures at the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi.

Visitor looking at Giacometti sculptures at the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi.

During our visit in 2022, we saw the temporary exhibition on Degas, the “dancer painter,” and Lautrec titled “When Lautrec looks at Degas.” Indeed, the studios of these two artists were in the same building in Paris, so they must have crossed paths. I notably learned during this visit that Lautrec had great admiration for Degas, who used pastel a lot, but that it wasn’t necessarily mutual… This exhibition also ended in September, unfortunately.

Bronze sculpture of a nude dancer, Musée Toulouse-Lautrec Albi.

Black and white portraits of Toulouse-Lautrec and another man, Musée Toulouse-Lautrec Albi.

Visitors admiring paintings in a room at the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi.

Interior Musée Toulouse-Lautrec Albi, central sculpture and sign "FIND THE RIGHT GESTURE".

Sketch of jockey on horseback, work exhibited at Musée Toulouse-Lautrec Albi.

Pastel drawing of dancer Miss Lala, Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, Albi.

Visited in 2019 and 2022

Musée Toulouse Lautrec
Palais de la Berbie, Place Sainte-Cécile, 81000 Albi
Rates: €10 / €5 reduced / free up to 17 years old
Link to the museum’s website

“Chill” in the garden of the Saint-Salvi cloister

Hidden from the bustle of the nearby shopping streets, the charming garden of the Saint-Salvi cloister is freely accessible from several places: from Rue Sainte-Cécile, by crossing the collegiate church, or through the covered passages from Place Saint-Salvi. You can admire beautiful paired columns, topped by Romanesque and Gothic capitals. This place was the cloister of the Saint-Salvi collegiate church, which is the oldest church in Albi.

Cloître de la Daurade in Albi, garden and medieval arcade.

Woman near a flowered well in the cloister of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi.

Hand placed on a red brick wall and textured mortar in Albi.

Antique stone cloister with arcade, young woman with arms raised.

Saint-Salvi Albi cloister: Romanesque arches, columns, and flowered garden.

Saint-Salvi Albi cloister, stone porch with arcade and green garden.

Saint-Salvi Cloister Garden
Albi
Free access
Open every day from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Take photos at Place Savène

This little hidden square is a haven of peace and a charming photo spot! With its colorful shutters, half-timbered houses, bench, and cats, it’s a secret and little-known place that I encourage you to discover while wandering through the city.

Colorful half-timbered and cobbled houses in Albi with bench and plants. Nicolas Diolez.

Woman sitting in front of red and wood half-timbered house in Albi, Tarn.

Narrow cobbled alley in Albi framed by red brick half-timbered houses.

House facade with red door and red shutters, abundance of potted plants.

Cobbled alley in Albi with half-timbered houses and red shutters.

Towers of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral seen between old houses in Albi, Tarn.

My Food recommendations in Albi

As usual, I provide you below with the few great addresses (restaurants, market…) that I had the opportunity to test on-site during my stays in Albi. Regarding gastronomy, there are many specialties to discover in the department, and as you might expect, that doesn’t displease me… If you like local beers, for example, you will be well served because the region is rich in micro-breweries. Regarding wine production, it is obviously the Gaillac wines that you must taste.

Other specialties to bring back in your luggage: typically Albigensian foie gras; saffron-based dishes; cod cassoulet; dry liver sausage (to die for!!!) from the Boucherie Millas (stand in the covered market); Bougnette (pork-based preparation cooked in broth mixed with an egg panade and wrapped in a caul fat), and melsat (a type of white pudding).

Bottle of Mas des Combes Gaillac 2016 red wine, Rémi Larroque.

Pieces of grilled bread stacked on a metal skewer at the Amapola Albi restaurant.

Buy local products at the Albi market

I recommend you go strolling through the Albi market, which is held on Saturday morning if you have the opportunity. It takes place 50 meters from Place Sainte-Cécile and also in the halls of the covered market. It’s the perfect place to bring back some local specialties (which we obviously did). And if you are not available on Saturday morning to do the market, don’t panic, you can also enjoy the covered market from Tuesday to Sunday. It has been taking place in beautiful Baltard-style halls since 1905!

Outdoor market in front of the Covered Market of Albi, Tarn.

Market and old buildings in Albi city center, Tarn.

Interior of the Albi covered market under a metal framework and glass roof.

Albi Covered Market hall with closed restaurant terrace.

Interior of the Albi Covered Market with merchants and customers.

Albi Covered Market
Rue Emile Grand, 81000 Albi
open Tuesday to Sunday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM (and also on holidays)
link to the covered market website

A deli with local products in Albi? Épicerie La Joie

In this small neighborhood grocery store located in the city center of Albi, one finds only products from local producers.

Blue facade of the "la joie" deli in Albi with its chalkboard of local products.

Tested in 2024

Épicerie La Joie
33 rue de l’Hôtel de Ville 81000 Albi
open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

A tea shop in Albi? L’Artisan du Thé

This brand, which has existed for over 20 years, owns a single boutique located in the historic Albigensian center. Their store offers teas from various terroirs and origins, grown by small producers, but also flavored tea or herbal tea creations and accessories like pretty teapots. You can also find their products online on their website.

Facade of the L'Artisan du Thé boutique on a cobbled street in Albi.

Tested in 2024

L’Artisan du Thé
38 rue de l’hôtel de ville 81 000 Albi
Link to the brand’s website

Where to eat on a terrace in Albi? Le Cascarbar

This restaurant, located in the heart of Albi and which we tested during our 2022 visit, offers a nice terrace overlooking a pedestrian street for sunny days. You can also find a menu with an interesting option featuring a platter with several small appetizers from the menu and the same for desserts (starting at €25).

To taste as a drink: the artisanal Albigensian beers from Brasserie Margot (we tested the white with sage and the yuzu blonde, price €5.50).

Appetizer with spicy popcorn in a glass and amuse-bouche on a spoon.

Terrace of the Cascarbar restaurant in Albi with clients seated.

Mousse dessert in a glass with airy texture decorated with mint and citrus jelly.

Fish croquette with salad, cream, caper, and orange soup in a glass.

Terrace of the Cascarbar in Albi with clients seated outdoors.

Mushroom risotto and foam, served on a textured black plate, eaten with a fork.

Glass of beer and bottle "la reine sorcière Blanche with sage" at the Cascarbar Albi restaurant.

Tested in 2022

Restaurant le Cascarbar
29 Rue Saint-Julien, 81000 Albi
Link to the restaurant’s website

Where to eat local in Albi? Le Pont du Tarn Restaurant (closed)

This Albigensian restaurant, opened in 2019, highlights Tarn terroir products. Everything, or almost everything, is made in Tarn in this establishment that offers dishes with products from small producers and local breeders. This locavore address is ideally located right next to the old bridge I was telling you about earlier.

To taste: the croquettes with pink garlic from Lautrec (€11); for dessert, the apple croustade (€6); for wine, you can find a very beautiful selection of Gaillac wines (price per glass between €2 and €5), which is the best-known local appellation; and for beer lovers, you won’t be left out either with notably a local draft beer, the Belles de Trébas (between €3 and €3.50).

Interior bar-restaurant Albi, wooden counter, exposed bricks, waitress.

Gourmet salad with foie gras and croutons, good food address in Albi

Grilled fish fillet with rice and leeks, Albi cuisine.

Golden croquettes and green salad on white plate, culinary suggestion Albi.

Woman enjoying a meal with white wine and beer in a restaurant in Albi.

Couple drinking beer in a modern restaurant in Albi, blue and gold decor.

Bottle of Gaillac 2017 "Blanc Sec" Château les Vignals white wine and glass.

Restaurant Le Pont du Tarn, half-timbered house, Albi.

Tested in 2019

Restaurant Le Pont du Tarn
1 rue d’Engueysse 81000 Albi
open 7 days a week from morning to night
Update from May 2024: unfortunately, I learned during my last trip to the Tarn that this restaurant had burned down along with the building that houses it, a few months earlier…
Link to the restaurant’s website

Where to eat lunch in Albi? Restaurant CAF’ART au Hibou

This restaurant is located opposite the covered market and offers simple cuisine, based on market products, and eco-responsible. The place is very nice, lively, blending the old with more recent art. The establishment spans several floors with very different atmospheres, including a concept store and a tattoo parlor at the very top… In short, an arty, eclectic place with very high appeal that I advise you to try after visiting the market, for example.

On the plate, you’ll find quite creative, fresh, and surprising cuisine, which obviously pleased us a lot. For drinks, the owner offers a beautiful selection of beers from local micro-breweries like Le Pont Vieux or Les Gélines (€4 per 33cl bottle).

Meal and craft beers in Albi, Tarn : Huit Diolez.

Yellow foamy drink in a green cup at the restaurant Douze Diolez Albi Tarn.

Bottle and mug of Pale Ale Le Pont Vieux craft beer in Albi.

Interior restaurant Albi, clients eating near a shelf of wine bottles.

Albi cuisine: rice bites garnished with radishes and seeds on white plate.

Les Gélines IPA craft beer in a glass and its bottle, Albi.

Gourmet dish with fried egg, black olives, red onions and sprouts, Albi restaurant.

Chocolate dessert, whipped cream, and crispy tuile in a restaurant in Albi.

Interior boutique Albi with yellow armchair, wooden table and coats on a rack.

Tested in 2019

Restaurant CAF’ART Au Hibou
21 rue Saint-Julien – 81000 Albi
Price: menu of the day with appetizer + main or main + dessert for €16 / appetizer + main + dessert for €18
Link to the restaurant’s Facebook page

Where to have a gastronomic meal in Albi? L’Epicurien Restaurant

This restaurant offers beautiful gastronomic creations in a sleek setting. The cuisine is of a high standard, and if you want to treat yourself, I strongly recommend this address, which has delighted our gourmet palates, not once but twice! A dinner there is also an opportunity to let yourself be carried away by the discoveries of sommelier Guillaume Roubet, who knows the region’s wines very well. We tasted some very beautiful things during our first visit, such as a local sweet wine, l’Amoureuse from Domaine Galaup, served at the end of the meal.

We had an excellent evening at l’Epicurien during our first visit in 2019, and what’s more, we had a funny surprise upon arriving, because the person who welcomed us was none other than our table neighbor from the dinner the previous evening with whom we had chatted a little. The world is small in Albi, and we already felt at home in just 2 days! During our 2nd visit in 2022, the quality of the address did not waver, and once again, we had a very good time. After these 2 tests, I can therefore recommend this beautiful address for a gastronomic meal over the long term.

Two bottles of white wine on a table: Mâcon Villages Michel Guignier and Saumur Lydie et Thierry Chancelle.

Creamy mushrooms with croutons and chives, white wine.

Creamy green velouté with croutons and a drizzle of cream, Tarn appetizer.

Chardonnay Simon Hawkins and Sancerre Domaine Fouassier wine bottles in Albi.

Meat dish and green vegetables with creamy sauce, epicurean address in Albi.

Grilled salmon steak on potato and vegetable salad, near glasses of wine.

Two glasses of sparkling white wine in a restaurant in Albi, Tarn.

Bottle and glass of sweet white wine "L'Amoureuse" from Galaup, Albi Tarn.

Diolèz appetizer: breaded fish, cucumber, herbs, Albi Tarn.

Dessert with strawberry sorbet, cream, and tuile, served at L'Épicurien Albi.

Interior restaurant Épicurien Albi, tables set, warm lighting, wood and stone decoration.

Duo of desserts made from meringue, strawberries, red sorbet, and white shavings.

Cream puff with gourmet cream and chocolate sauce, epicurean specialty of Albi.

Waitress walking in the modern interior of the Épicurien restaurant in Albi.

Atmosphere of the epicurean restaurant in Albi, Tarn, with diners and visible kitchen.

Facade of the Épicurien restaurant with outdoor terrace in Albi.

Facade of the Épicurien restaurant at night with terrace and central tree.

Red wine poured into a glass during a tasting at the Épicurien Albi restaurant.

Tested in 2019 and 2022

Restaurant l’Epicurien
42, Place Jean Jaurès 81000 Albi
Prices: the menu of the moment with appetizer + main + dessert for €35 (+ €15 for food & wine pairing) / all-fish menu at €49.50 (+ €20 for food & wine pairing) / Epicurien menu at €59 in 4 courses (+ €25 for food & wine pairing)
Great tip: the chalkboard of the day (from Tuesday to Friday, lunch only) with appetizer + main or main + dessert for €21 and appetizer + main + dessert for €23.50
Link to the restaurant’s website

Where to dine in a historic setting in Albi? La Forge du Vieil Alby

This restaurant, opened in 2023, is installed in a former forge that was active until 1998. You will find very good cuisine there, with bold and creative combinations.

We tasted: perfect egg with lentils in green celery condiment (€16); marinated sea bass with walnut oil and apples (€18); duck breast with raspberry sauce (€25); veal cut with carrot sauce and garden tarragon (€28); the “Paris calm” and the “Slender strawberry” by pastry chef Cédric Millet (€10 per dessert).

Facade of the La Forge du Vieil Albi restaurant in red bricks.

Interior bar of the Forge du vieil Albi with marble counter and bottle shelves.

Poached egg on lentils with carrots and knife cutting the egg yolk.

Bottle of white wine Domaine de Brin "Pierres Blanches" 2023 and glass on wooden table.

Meat dish and roasted potatoes with sauce, near a glass of red wine.

Dinner and red wine in Albi, gastronomic recommendation Tarn weekend.

Gastronomic dessert with strawberries, sorbet, and crumble served on a white plate.

Cream puffs filled with hazelnut mousseline cream on a white plate in Albi.

La Forge du Vieil Alby
9 Rue de la Croix Blanche, 81000 Albi
Rates: Air menu with appetizer + main + dessert for €36 / Terre menu with appetizer + main + dessert for €46 / Feu menu at €100 for 2 people / vegetarian menu €36 / children’s menu €16
Great tip: menu of the day (lunchtime only, Tuesday to Friday) with appetizer + main + dessert for €21 / appetizer + main or main + dessert for €19 / main only €17
Link to the restaurant’s website

Where to brunch in Albi? Amapola kitchen

This address, opened in 2018, offers a great brunch formula on the weekend for €25 all-inclusive. I really recommend you go to brunch in this nice little coffee shop, which offers a copious and high-quality brunch only on Sunday, however (also remember to book because the place is small and fills up quickly as a result).

On the program for this Sunday brunch (which changes according to the seasons and products): cold soup, sandwich, fruit juice, hot drink, and pancake.

Person eating a dip with bread at a table with sandwiches and orange juice.

Cucumber and white sauce sandwich on a white dish, orange juice.

Pink cold soup with egg, herbs, and spices, Restaurant Amapola Albi.

Small bread filled with fresh cheese, cucumber, and avocado, orange juice in the background.

Chocolate crepes with ice cream at Restaurant Amapola Albi.

Four people having a meal at a table in the Amapola Albi restaurant.

Tested in 2022

Amapola Kitchen
100 Rue Porta, 81000 Albi
Brunch formula at €25 on Sundays only
Link to the address’s Facebook page

A private chef in Albi? Yazmin Geze

This Tarno-Mexican private chef offers meals for 10 people or more. We had the opportunity to discover her talent during a dinner at the bed & breakfast Kassiopée Bed & Spa where we stayed in Albi during our trip to the Tarn in 2024 (which I talk about in the following paragraph). Yazmin previously owned the restaurant L’Ambroisie in Albi with her sommelier husband, Guillaume. Following Covid, they sold their establishment to offer meals “at home,” keeping the Ambroisie label and working as a pair in the kitchen and dining room.

Bottle of Effervescence Les Grezels Gaillac wine and flute nearby.

Truffled foie gras in slices with dried apple chips and red flowers.

Smiling couple in professional attire in front of a decorative golden mirror.

Table set for a dinner with wooden suspensions above.

Slices of pink meat, broccoli, and white wine in a glass during a meal in Albi.

Chef plating several plates of fine dishes with a ladle.

Table elegantly set for a meal, modern decoration with deer head.

Macarons, strawberry sorbet, and fresh strawberries on a red plate.

Yazmin Geze, private chef
Link to the chef’s Facebook page

My hotels and accommodations in Albi

As usual, you will find below my selection of great accommodation addresses (1 hotel and 3 bed & breakfasts) in Albi, which we had the opportunity to test during our three stays in the city with my favorite photographer.

A bed & breakfast for a romantic stay in Albi? Kassiopée Bed & Spa

This contemporary and ecological guesthouse, run by Irène and Nicolas, is located in the green lung of Albi and has 5 rooms. It opened in 2021 and offers contemporary and eco-responsible architecture thanks to a terracotta building. The setting of this accommodation is very green because it is surrounded by many market gardens and is only a 20-minute walk from the city center (based on what we were told, because we didn’t have time to verify it ourselves).

This accommodation is truly perfect for a romantic stay as a couple, and each room has a private terrace with a spa/jacuzzi where it is good to relax. Moreover, the accommodation’s wastewater is sanitized by plants and then reused to water the accommodation’s green spaces. The place also strives to reduce its waste as much as possible by composting and sorting. Finally, the place has a beautiful swimming pool for enthusiasts. And a very pleasant little bonus: breakfast is served in the room on a very practical rolling tray, to let you appreciate the intimacy of the place even more.

Red Callistemon in bloom in a landscaped garden in Albi.

Alley leading to a modern wooden entrance near Albi, under a large tree.

Lush garden near a modern house in Albi under a cloudy sky.

Modern dining room with wooden table, white chairs, and designer light fixtures in Albi.

Modern interior with geometric deer head decoration and wooden light fixtures Albi.

Wooden terrace with relaxed woman and jacuzzi, accommodation Albi.

Kassiopée Albi hotel room with floral headboard and hanging lighting.

Woman enjoying an outdoor jacuzzi on a wooden terrace near Albi.

Breakfast served on a wooden tray at Kassiopee in Albi.

Copious breakfast served in trays with croissants, fruits, cake, and coffee in Albi.

Tested in 2024

Chambre d’hôte Kassiopée Bed & Spa
21 chemin des Issards 81000 Albi
Rates: nights between €160 and €250 depending on the season
Link to the bed & breakfast website

An upscale and designer bed & breakfast in Albi? L’Autre Rives (closed)

This charming address is installed in a beautiful house dating from between the two wars, with a magnificent garden with a swimming pool at the back. Isabelle receives her guests magnificently at her home with a kindness and rare attention that is particularly appreciable, and I insist on this point because we had a wonderful stay at her place. The breakfasts are truly delicious with local products and a significant portion of “homemade” items (cream puffs, homemade cakes, homemade yogurts…). We were staying with my favorite photographer in the Zen suite of the house, with a nice view of the cathedral in the “living room” part. And then, the icing on the cake, the prices are truly very accessible, I find, for the standing of the place.

This charming address, decorated with great taste, offers 5 very spacious themed rooms (Vintage, Scandinavian, Zen, Baroque, Ethnic), a landscaped garden, a swimming pool, a sauna, and a fitness room, as well as a parking lot if you come by car. In short, it is truly one of the most beautiful bed & breakfasts I have had the opportunity to visit in France, so I highly recommend it.

Villa facade in bricks and plaster with green garden, L'Autre Rives, Albi.

Smiling woman in two-tone swimwear in an outdoor pool.

Yellow table and chairs on gravel under green trees, exterior Lautre Rives Albi.

Outdoor pool with wooden terrace, red loungers, and hammock in a green garden.

Collection of succulents, cacti, and fat plants in pots, including Aloe.

Wooden interior staircase and entrance hall with mosaic floor.

Modern living room with black, red, and light wood furniture. DR Nicolas Diolez.

Modern bathroom with double vanity, bathtub, and window framed by tiles.

Photography, two women in kimono waiting for a train, by Nicolas Diolez.

Room with wooden bed, floral wall headboard, and prune throw. Nicolas Diolez.

Hotel room L'Autre Rives Albi with floral wall headboard and cushions.

Strawberries, cherries, and strawberry jam presented with cheese.

Woman having breakfast on the terrace with croissants and coffee.

Assortment of golden scones served on a glass tray.

French breakfast: croissant, bread, cheese, jam, coffee, butter.

Hand of person taking a mini crepe with silver tongs.

Cream puffs on patterned plate, cheese platter blurred in the background.

Tested in 2022

Chambre d’hôtes l’Autre Rives (update 2026: the address is permanently closed)
Design guest house by Isabelle Martial
60 Rue Cantepau, 81000 Albi
Room prices: starting at €115 per night (breakfast included)

Another Bed & Breakfast in Albi? La Villa Caroline

I haven’t tested this bed & breakfast, but Laure from Copines de Bons Plans and Pascal slept there during their stay, and they highly recommended it to us as well. It also offers a stunning view of the cathedral of Albi.

Shaded terrace in Albi with a view of the Sainte-Cécile cathedral.

View of Albi with the Sainte-Cécile cathedral from a terrace and pool.

La Villa Caroline
16 Rue de l’Équerre, 81000 Albi
Room prices: starting at approximately €100 (minimum 2-night booking)
Link to the bed & breakfast website

Where to sleep in Albi? Hôtel-restaurant Alchimy Albi****

Opened in 2019 in an Art Deco building designed by the architect León Daures in the 1920s, this establishment is a 4-star luxury hotel. It is ideally located in the center of the city of Albi, which is particularly practical, I must say, when you come to visit the city. If you come by car, know that the hotel also has a garage for its guests, as it is very (extremely) difficult to park in the neighborhood.

Red brick facade of a hotel/restaurant in Albi, Tarn.

Hotel hallway decorated with pink armchairs near an elevator and numbered doors.

Our Room no. 9

The rooms are magnificently decorated with great taste, and the bedding is extremely comfortable! We also had a very beautiful bathtub in our room, and I am always fond of baths when I am at a hotel because it is a change from my small Parisian shower…

Comfortable hotel room with large bed and nightstands in Albi.

Reflection in mirror of a woman and a man with camera in Albi hotel room.

Modern bathroom with bathtub, marble walls, and wall decoration.

Breakfast

Breakfast in the room is the same as in the dining room. So, I strongly advise you to have it in the room, because breakfast in bed during the holidays is the best thing for relaxing…

Woman having breakfast at the Hotel Diolez Albi Tarn.

Baskets of warm croissants for breakfast in Albi, Tarn.

The Restaurant

In addition to being a magnificent hotel, the establishment also offers a quality bistronomic restaurant. I liked the restaurant dining room a lot with its overhead glass roof, which is really beautiful and particularly conducive to a romantic dinner. On the plates, you will find a seasonal menu that revisits classic French cuisine using fresh products. The restaurant offers a beautiful selection of wines by the glass, including some local Gaillac productions (price per glass between €5 and €10). For an aperitif, if you want to taste local, I advise you to try the Gaillacois sparkling wine Mauzac Nature (€7 a glass).

Chic interior restaurant with orange, chandelier, guests, and service staff in Albi.

Glass and golden structure of glass roof with reflections of chandeliers in a hotel in Albi.

Gourmet appetizer served in a cocktail glass with crispy tuile.

Gourmet appetizer with fried onions and creamy sauce on white plate.

Cured ham tapas on grilled bread and olive oil Albi.

Pan-seared gnocchi served on a bed of cream, recipe idea Albi.

Cream puff and chantilly on white plate, Albi dessert.

Two flutes of sparkling drink on a counter, Verres Diolez.

Cream puff, whipped cream, and caramel coulis poured in Albi.

Bottle of Mas des Combes Coteaux d'Oustry wine, Gaillac, ancestral method.

White wine tasting in a restaurant in Albi.

Woman eating in a modern restaurant in Albi, Tarn.

Price: l’Instant Alchimique menu with appetizer + main + dessert for €38 (7 days/7 lunch and dinner)

Good to know: the establishment offers a vegetarian menu ‘l’Instant Végé’ with appetizer + main + dessert for €28 (7 days/7 lunch and dinner)

Great tip: the Pause Alchimique for lunch (Monday to Friday) from the chalkboard with appetizer + main or main + dessert for €18 / appetizer + main + dessert for €21

Tested in 2019

Hôtel Alchimy
12 Place du Palais, 81000 Albi
Room prices: approximately €160 per night with parking and breakfast included
Link to the hotel’s website

Many thanks to Tarn Tourisme, the Albi Tourist Office, and Pascal from the aiRPur Agency for these beautiful discoveries! And also thanks to my travel friends for their good humor (don’t hesitate to take a look at their articles about the Tarn and Albi): Copines de Bons Plans and Parisian Touch!

Four people toasting with white wine at a wooden table in a restaurant.

I hope that with all this, I have made you want to discover Albi, and if you also have your own great addresses and tips for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below!

Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez
Photos are not royalty-free; the photographer's authorization is mandatory before any use