In 2017, the city of Albi was ranked by "L'Express" as the 4th city in France where people live well. And if we narrowed down to the cities of the South-West, it took 2nd place. The first deputy mayor, Michel Franques then listed: "a peaceful living environment, a reassuring security environment, developed education, wide access to culture, a quality healthcare offer..." Let's discover Albi , a dream city for the construction of a detached house in the South West.
Building your house in Albi: between nature, sea and mountains
If you like vineyard landscapes, the sea, the mountains and a bit of the city too, choosing to build your house in Albi is one of the best choices. Indeed, Albi capital of the Tarn department, is located in the heart of the Occitanie region.
The Albigensian vineyard, Gaillac, is rich in its 2000 years of history and the vines that we cross as soon as we move away around Albi allow us to discover the bastides and perched villages, landscapes with the air of Tuscany... Alongside these small villages with their timeless charm, one finds, just 30 km from Albi, the sporty but breathtaking town of Ropes on Sky.
For those who prefer the mountains, the Ariège Pyrenees Regional Nature Parks is less than 2 hours by car. Its many marked trails are a delight for hikers as well as mountain biking, fishing, climbing and paragliding enthusiasts. You can also make gourmet encounters and tastings of local products, zoological observation hikes or geological deciphering... The Massif Central is also very close to Albi. To the east, the first low altitude plateaus form the foothills of the Causses. To the south-east, some medium-sized mountains, reaching an altitude of 1300 m, form a barrier: the Lacaune mountains, the Sidobre mountain and the Black mountain.
Finally, the sea is also within reach of the city of Albi since Narbonne is only 140 km away, Agde at 170 km and Sète 200km away.
Nature in the heart of the city of Albi
But no need to leave Albi to get a breath of fresh air. Stroll along the Tarn, on foot or by bike. If you want to go further and you are more sporty, the green escape is made for you: an urban hiking trail that follows the route of the GR36 for 4 kilometers in a preserved and maintained natural environment.
For those who prefer parks and gardens, theThe Berbie Gardens, elegant French-style gardens created in the XNUMXth century by the first archbishop of Albi, are today classified as remarkable. They offer a unique view of the banks of the Tarn, the old Albigensian quarters and more particularly of "le Pont Vieux", a vestige of the XNUMXth or XNUMXth century.
Living in Albi: an ideal climate in all seasons
Close to the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Massif Central, the region's climate is oceanic, with continental and Mediterranean influences.
Albi benefits, due to its particular geographical location, from almost ideal climatic conditions. Indeed, the climate, temperate, is mild in autumn, with equally mild and humid springs and hot and dry summers. The average annual temperature is 13,1°C, the average annual sunshine is 2 hours, which offers a particularly pleasant southern climate. A chance: the Autan wind which particularly affects the Tarn department is not very present in Albi.
Choose to build your house in Albi, less than an hour from Toulouse
It is possible to access the town of Albi thanks to the rich motorway network of the region. The city also has two railway stations and an airfield. But above all, Albi is 50 minutes by car from Toulouse (and its Blagnac airport), Rodez, Montauban, 1h30 from Cahors, Carcassonne, Millau and 2h30 from Perpignan, Montpellier, Lourdes.
It is therefore very easy to get to Albi, for all possible means of transport, which makes this city very accessible and absolutely not landlocked despite its location close to the Massif Central.
Building your house in Albi in a secure, reassuring and dynamic environment for studies
Albi is a city where life is good because the environment is healthy. Security is optimal in this city where the municipal teams work to ensure the tranquility of the Albigensians, to promote living together and to enhance the public space.
The different generations rub shoulders there gently. Because one of Albi's other strengths is surely its privileged environment for studying. The academic level of public education is very good from kindergarten to Terminale. And as far as higher education is concerned, Albi has 4 students spread over 500 higher education institutions. The quality of life on the campuses is very pleasant because there are not too many students. They are then found in establishments as prestigious as the Jean-François Champollion National University Institute, the IMT Mines Albi-Carmaux, the training institutes for health professions (IFMS) or the European School of Art and materials (EEAM).
The construction of your individual house in Albi, within a rich architectural heritage
It's hard to miss the rich historical heritage of this UNESCO-listed city. The city's most famous landmark is bound to be Sainte-Cécile Cathedral. A masterpiece of medieval Gothic art, it was built from 1282 to 1480 on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Tarn, at the same time as the famous Albigensian crusade by the Catholic Church against Catharism. If the building is unmissable when you enter the city and it is very impressive, it is essential to visit its interiors, its grandiose vaults and its rich colorful decorations.
The Berbie Palace, a former episcopal palace, is particularly interesting for its magnificent gardens, with a panoramic view of the Tarn. History fans will also appreciate Saint-Salvi collegiate church, named after the 1st bishop of the city of Albi in the XNUMXth century, located at the corner of Place Sainte-Cécile. A church which is one of the largest Romanesque churches in the Albigensian region and which completes the historic visit to Old Alby.
The city is also rich in historical monuments within it, with its bridges, its half-timbered houses, its medieval-style alleys and its Renaissance mansions.
Albi: a gastronomic and cultural city, offering a great sweetness of life
Albi is a teeming city for culture fans. The most famous museum in the city is the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, installed in the Palais de la Berbie, dedicated to the works of this painter born in Albi in 1864. The collection has no end and the floors abound with fascinating works. Get ready for hours of discovery because, with more than 1000 paintings, the museum has the largest collection in the world devoted to this artist.
Other popular cultural venues: the Fashion Museum, housed in part of the former convent of the Annunciades, in the Episcopal City, the Lapérouse museum which presents the history and travels of the naval officer and explorer Jean-François de Galaup, Comte de Lapérouse and the academy of miniatures, which exhibits the work of visual artist Annie Jaurès, who has created no less than 66 showcases of miniatures!
Do you like generous and authentic cuisine? You will be served, in Albi! The Albigensian table and beyond, Tarn, is part of the great gastronomic tradition of the Great South-West of France. Cassoulet, foie gras, duck breast, veal from Ségala but also Roquefort, goat cheese… A few examples of dishes to make your mouth water? The Albigensian-style stew with sausages and dried beans, hot radishes with salted liver, an original starter made from diced pork liver and radishes sliced into pan-fried rings and sautéed in a drizzle of vinegar, the pink garlic soup from Lautrec or croustade, tart covered and garnished with apples or prunes.
Be accompanied by a house builder in Albi to choose your favorite neighborhood
When deciding on the construction of a new house, it is essential to be accompanied by a professional who knows both the field of construction but also the possibilities of land. Maison SIC, builder of individual houses for nearly 50 years throughout the south-west of France, has many offers for your future new home construction project in Albi and its surroundings.
If you want to know a little more about the different districts of Albi, you should know that, according to this article from La Dépêche, La Maladrerie is resolutely the “favourite” district of new buyers, behind La Piscine and Bellevue seem to be sticking to their position, without forgetting Vieil Alby, still in the hit parade, which is also in demand.
