Albi Guided Walking Tour (private)
Highlights
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Stroll through the historic Vieil Albi - Old Town
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Berbie Palace, home of the Toulouse-Lautrec museum
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Saint Cécile Cathedral, masterpiece of Gothic Architecture
Summary
Private Tour of Must-See Architecture and Art in Albi with a certified guide. Visit the historical city center where you will admire the Private Mansions, the Albi Cathedral as well as the famed Toulouse-Lautrec Museum.
Tour info
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
15
Pricing (From)
Adult:
(18-99 years)
€250.00
Commentary
English
Meeting Point
Dropoff location
Why take this tour?
Learn About the Must-See Sites in Albi From an Expert Guide
The Charming small town of Albi, on the River Tarn, is located just a short hour's drive from the major city of Toulouse. Nicknamed 'La Rouge' (The Red) because of the large number of brick buildings that compose the town, a guided walking tour in Albi is more than just a pleasant experience. The town is home to a number of top rated attractions including a mighty brick built Cathedral, admirable Renaissance Private Mansions linked to the woad trade and an attractive Old Town (Viei Alby) with its winding streets and gothic houses.
The Charming small town of Albi, on the River Tarn, is located just a short hour's drive from the major city of Toulouse. Nicknamed 'La Rouge' (The Red) because of the large number of brick buildings that compose the town, a guided walking tour in Albi is more than just a pleasant experience. The town is home to a number of top rated attractions including a mighty brick built Cathedral, admirable Renaissance Private Mansions linked to the woad trade and an attractive Old Town (Viei Alby) with its winding streets and gothic houses.
Meet your English speaking licensed tour guide
Upon arrival, meet your licensed tour guide at a dedicated meeting point in Albi such as in front of the tourist office. All our tour guides are certified guides which means that they are authorized to conduct tours in monuments & museums, historical towns as well as Unesco World Heritage sites as Albi. Your guide will go over the itinerary of the visit with you and after that, it will be time to begin your Guided Walking tour of Albi.
A fortress Cathedral
Located just next to the tourism office of Albi, begin your tour with the visit of the imposing Gothic Cathedral one of the most impressive in France. Built in the 13th century (1282 - 1480), construction took 200 years and the Cathedral is today the largest brick built building in the world measuring more than 100 meters in length (320 feet), 35 meters wide (114 feet) and 78 meters tall (255 feet).
The sheer size and external look of the Cathedral is quite spectacular. The Cathedral was built at a time when the region was fighting the Cathars, a christian dualist movement that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church, and had just been annexed by the King of France in 1271.
The building of the Cathedral had both a religious and political purpose: build an imposing fortress to showcase the power of the Church against the Cathars but also to build it in the Southern Gothic style, in brick material, far from the Northern style that had just overtaken the region.
Inside, the beauty of the Renaissance decorations contrast with the austere exterior of the edifice. What really impresses are the paintings of the vaulting. They are the oldest and largest Renaissance painting ensemble in France. The blue color that dominates the paintings dates back to the 1520's and they were never cleaned or restored.
Vieil Alby
After the visit of the Cathedral, it will be time to move on with your guide to visit the Old Historical town of Albi. Your tour will also take you along the banks of the Tarn River to admire the Old Bridge but also to the Saint Salvi district where an elegant cloister can still be seen. Then stroll through the medieval streets of the city of Albi and discover some remarquable examples of Renaissance architecture.
A number of Private Mansions can still be seen and your guide will certainly evoque the times when the region was known as a 'Pays de Cocagne' a land where the woad trade made a number of merchants become rich and powerful. One of the most interesting examples can be found in the Hôtel de reynes, built circa 1525, where the mix of stone & brick building has attained great craftsmanship.
The Toulouse-Lautrec Museum
Certainly the most important landmark with the Albi Cathedral, the Toulouse-Lautrec museum is certainly not to be missed when one comes to Albi. Set in what used to be the Bishops Palace, the Musée Toulouse Lautrec is home to the most important collection of artworks by artist Henri de Toulouse Lautrec that were donated by the mother of the painter to the town of Albi.
Here follow your guide on a private tour of the museum that is composed of drawings, etchings, lithographies, posters and paintings made by the artiste. More than a 1000 works of Art make up the whole collection. The Berbie Palace, where the museum is located, enhances the visit as the setting is quite remarkable.
After the visit of the museum, enjoy some free time for personal discovery. This will also be the end of our services.
What’s included?
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English speaking licensed tour guide -
Pick up at your hotel -
Visit of Cathedral -
Visit of Old Town -
Entrance fees to monuments, museums
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Meals, drinks
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Gratuities for the guide
Things to know
Before you book
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Group size of 1 to 15 participants maximum
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Tour is operated in English, other languages on request
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Tour is not wheelchair accessible
Before you go
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Please be ready 10 minutes before arrival time
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Tour available all year round (except May 1st, Dec 25th and Jan 1st)
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Tour involves walking, comfortable walking shoes recommended
Cancellation Policy
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Ophorus requires full payment by credit card, internet payment (through our website) or wire transfer (Wire transfer fees at the charge of the Guest) to make a reservation. We accept payment by AMEX, Visa and Master Card. There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments except with American Express +3%. For any cancellation, the following fees will be deducted from the refund:
> Up to 30 days before the service, 100% refund
> From less than 30 days to 15 days before the service, 20% fee
> From 14 days to 4 days before the service, 50% fee
> From 3 days before the service, 100% fee
About operator:
Ophorus Tours is both a licensed Tour Operator, member of Atout France and ETOA, and a Transportation company with headquarters in Bordeaux. We operate since 2005 and conduct Walking Tours, Day Trips, Private Tours, Shore Excursions and multi-regional Tours throughout France.
Our multilingual office staff is made up of France Travel Experts that design unique itineraries for both individuals and groups. Their perfect knowledge of the destination allows them to suggest carefully crafted programs to professionals of the Travel Trade all over the world.
Our in house team of licensed, multilingual Tour Guides are local Experts that can conduct any type of tours including (but not limited to) Cultural & Historical, Food & Wine, Luxury, Battlefields, Active, Family friendly, Faith-based etc...
Our multilingual office staff is made up of France Travel Experts that design unique itineraries for both individuals and groups. Their perfect knowledge of the destination allows them to suggest carefully crafted programs to professionals of the Travel Trade all over the world.
Our in house team of licensed, multilingual Tour Guides are local Experts that can conduct any type of tours including (but not limited to) Cultural & Historical, Food & Wine, Luxury, Battlefields, Active, Family friendly, Faith-based etc...
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