Tarn

The Tarn is a department in southern France that includes mountain ranges such as the Monts de Lacaune, the Sidobre, and the Montagne Noire. Albi serves as the prefecture, while Castres acts as the sole subprefecture in this two-district administrative unit.

The department was created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution from parts of the former province of Languedoc. It brought together the former dioceses of Albi and Castres under a new administrative structure.

The department takes its name from the river that flows through its territory, whose banks host weekly markets in several towns. Visitors notice the red brick architecture typical of this area, which defines the character of many villages and towns.

The area is best explored by car, as towns connect through a network of country roads across hilly terrain. The central cities of Albi and Castres offer rail connections and serve as starting points for trips to surrounding communities.

This department is one of only two in France completely surrounded by other departments from the same administrative region. The geographic position creates a kind of enclosed territory within the boundaries of Occitania.

Location: Occitania

Inception: March 4, 1790

Shares border with: Aude, Aveyron, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, Tarn-et-Garonne

Website: https://tarn.gouv.fr

GPS coordinates: 43.90972,2.10917

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:00