Tarn ( or ; ) is a
department in the
Occitania
Occitania is the historical region in Southern Europe where the Occitan language was historically spoken and where it is sometimes used as a second language. This cultural area roughly encompasses much of the southern third of France (except ...
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
in
Southern France
Southern France, also known as the south of France or colloquially in French as , is a geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,Louis Papy, ''Le midi atlantique'', Atlas e ...
. Named after the river
Tarn, it had a population of as of 2019.
[Populations légales 2019: 81 Tarn]
INSEE Its
prefecture
A prefecture (from the Latin word, "''praefectura"'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain inter ...
and
largest city
The United Nations uses three definitions for what constitutes a city, as not all cities in all jurisdictions are classified using the same criteria. Cities may be defined as the cities proper, the extent of their urban area, or their metrop ...
is
Albi
Albi (; ) is a commune in France, commune in southern France. It is the prefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department, on the river Tarn (river), Tarn, 85 km northeast of Toulouse. Its inhabitants are called ...
; it has a single
subprefecture
A subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is below prefecture or province.
Albania
There are twelve Counties of Albania, Albanian counties or prefectures, each of which is divided into several Districts of Albania, district ...
,
Castres
Castres (; ''Castras'' in the Languedocian dialect, Languedocian dialect of Occitan language, Occitan) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department in the Occitania (adminis ...
. In
French, the inhabitants of Tarn are known as (masculine) and (feminine).
Le nom des habitants du 81 - Tarn
habitants.fr Its INSEE and postcode number is 81.
History
Tarn is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790, through application of the Law of 22 December 1789. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc
The Province of Languedoc (, , ; ) is a former province of France.
Most of its territory is now contained in the modern-day region of Occitanie in Southern France. Its capital city was Toulouse. It had an area of approximately .
History
...
, and comprised the dioceses of Albi
Albi (; ) is a commune in France, commune in southern France. It is the prefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department, on the river Tarn (river), Tarn, 85 km northeast of Toulouse. Its inhabitants are called ...
and Castres (which found themselves merged in 1817).
The new department had five district
A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...
s: Albi, Castres, Lavaur, Gaillac, Lacaune. The capitals (now prefectures
A prefecture (from the Latin word, "''praefectura"'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain inter ...
) were, alternatively, Albi
Albi (; ) is a commune in France, commune in southern France. It is the prefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department, on the river Tarn (river), Tarn, 85 km northeast of Toulouse. Its inhabitants are called ...
and Castres
Castres (; ''Castras'' in the Languedocian dialect, Languedocian dialect of Occitan language, Occitan) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department in the Occitania (adminis ...
but, from 1790 to 1797, the capital was only Albi; in 1797, the capital was moved to Castres. In 1800, Albi became again the capital of the department and the arrondissements were created; the department had four arrondissements: Albi, Castres, Gaillac and Lavaur. In 1926, the arrondissements of Gaillac and Lavaur were eliminated.
By the law of 28 Pluviôse
Pluviôse (; also ''Pluviose'') was the fifth month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European langua ...
Year 5
Year 5 is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the fifth year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between nine and eleven.
Australia
In Austr ...
, the departments of Hérault
Hérault (; , ) is a departments of France, department of the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southern France. Named after the Hérault (river), Hérault River, its Prefectures in France, prefecture is M ...
and of Tarn exchanged the canton of Anglès (which had been part of the diocese of Saint-Pons, but which has remained in Tarn) for that of Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare (which had been part of the diocese of Castres, but which today remains in Hérault).
Geography
Tarn is part of the Occitanie region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
and has an area of . The department is surrounded by five departments, all belonging to the region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
Occitanie: Hérault
Hérault (; , ) is a departments of France, department of the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southern France. Named after the Hérault (river), Hérault River, its Prefectures in France, prefecture is M ...
to the southeast, Aude
Aude ( ; ) is a Departments of France, department in Southern France, located in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region and named after the river Aude (river), Aude. The departmental council also calls it " ...
to the south, Aveyron
Aveyron (; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southern France. It was named after the river Aveyron (river), Aveyron. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyro ...
to the north and east, Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne (; , ; ''Upper Garonne'') is a department in the southwestern French region of Occitanie. Named after the river Garonne, which flows through the department. Its prefecture and main city is Toulouse, the country's fourth-largest. ...
to the southwest and west, as well as Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne (; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania Regions of France, region in Southern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn (river), Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its n ...
to the northwest. It is one of two French departments surrounded entirely by other departments of the same region.
The slope of the department is from east to west, and its general character is mountainous or hilly. Tarn's three principal ranges lying to the south-east are: the Mountains of Lacaune
Lacaune (; , meaning ''the cave'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department in southern France.
Geography
The river Gijou has its source in the commune.
History
In 1797, the feral child ...
, the Sidobre and the Montagne Noire
The Montagne Noire (; , known as the 'Black Mountain' in English) is a mountain range in central southern France. It is located at the southwestern end of the Massif Central at the juncture of the Tarn, Hérault and Aude departments. Its highe ...
, belonging to the Cévennes
The Cévennes ( , ; ) is a cultural region and range of mountains in south-central France, on the south-east edge of the Massif Central. It covers parts of the '' départements'' of Ardèche, Gard, Hérault and Lozère. Rich in geographical, ...
.
The stony and wind-blown slopes of the Mountains of Lacaune
Lacaune (; , meaning ''the cave'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department in southern France.
Geography
The river Gijou has its source in the commune.
History
In 1797, the feral child ...
(''Monts de Lacaune'') are used for pasture
Pasture (from the Latin ''pastus'', past participle of ''pascere'', "to feed") is land used for grazing.
Types of pasture
Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, c ...
. The highest point of the range and of the department is the ''Puech Montgrand'', high; several other summits are not much short of this. The granite-strewn plateaux of the Sidobre, from high, separate the valley of the river Agout
The Agout or Agoût (; ) is a long river in south-western France. It is a left tributary of the Tarn. Its source is in the southern Massif Central, in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park. It flows generally west through the following depar ...
from that of its western tributary, the Thoré River. The Montagne Noire
The Montagne Noire (; , known as the 'Black Mountain' in English) is a mountain range in central southern France. It is located at the southwestern end of the Massif Central at the juncture of the Tarn, Hérault and Aude departments. Its highe ...
, on the southwestern border of the department, derives its name from the forests on its northern slope. Its highest point is the Pic de Nore at high.
The limestone
Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
and sandstone
Sandstone is a Clastic rock#Sedimentary clastic rocks, clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of grain size, sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate mineral, silicate grains, Cementation (geology), cemented together by another mineral. Sand ...
foot-hills are clothed with vine
A vine is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas, or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselves, for instance, when used in wicker work.Jackson; Benjamin; Da ...
s and fruit trees, and are broken by deep alluvial valleys of particular fertility. With the exception of a small portion of the Montagne Noire, which drains into the river Aude
Aude ( ; ) is a Departments of France, department in Southern France, located in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region and named after the river Aude (river), Aude. The departmental council also calls it " ...
, the whole department belongs to the basin of the Garonne
The Garonne ( , ; Catalan language, Catalan, Basque language, Basque and , ;
or ) is a river that flows in southwest France and northern Spain. It flows from the central Spanish Pyrenees to the Gironde estuary at the French port of Bordeaux � ...
.
Demographics
Tarn has a population, in 2019, of 389,844, for a population density of inhabitants/km2.[
]
Population evolution
Population development since 1801:
Principal towns
The most populous commune is Albi
Albi (; ) is a commune in France, commune in southern France. It is the prefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department, on the river Tarn (river), Tarn, 85 km northeast of Toulouse. Its inhabitants are called ...
, the prefecture. As of 2019, there are 10 communes with more than 6,000 inhabitants:[
]
Administration
Administrative divisions
There are 2 arrondissements, 23 cantons
A canton is a type of administrative division of a country. In general, cantons are relatively small in terms of area and population when compared with other administrative divisions such as counties, departments, or provinces. Internationally, th ...
and 314 communes
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
in Tarn.
Politics
Departmental Council of Tarn
The Departmental Council of Tarn has 46 seats. In the 2015 departmental elections, the Socialist Party
Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...
(PS) won 26 seats and The Republicans (LR) and Union of Democrats and Independents
The Union of Democrats and Independents (, , UDI) is a Liberalism, liberal List of political parties in France, political party in France and former electoral alliance founded on 18 September 2012 on the basis of the UDI and Independents group, e ...
(UDI) alliance won 18 seats; two miscellaneous right
Miscellaneous right (', ''DVD'') in France refers to centre-right or right-wing candidates who are not members of any large party. This can include members of small right-wing parties, dissidents expelled from their party for running against thei ...
candidates complete the assembly composition. Christophe Ramond (PS) has been President of the Departmental Council since 2017.
Members of the National Assembly
In the 2017 legislative election, Tarn elected the following members of the National Assembly
In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...
:
Tourism
(Albi) - Palais de la Berbie vu de la rive droite du Tarn.jpg, Palais de la Berbie Albi
(Albi) East views of the Ste Cécile Cathedral - Apse.jpg, Albi Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Cecilia of Albi ( French: ''Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d'Albi''), also known as Albi Cathedral, is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Albi. First built in the aftermath of the Albigensian Crusade, the grim exterior res ...
(Castres) Le théâtre et le musée Goya vus du jardin de l'évêché.jpg, Castres
Castres (; ''Castras'' in the Languedocian dialect, Languedocian dialect of Occitan language, Occitan) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department in the Occitania (adminis ...
The theater and the Goya Museum (Episcopal Palace) seen from the bishop's garden
Rue Castelnau de Montmiral.jpg, Street in Castelnau-de-Montmiral
Cordes-sur-Ciel, june 2016 - 3185.jpg, View of Cordes-sur-Ciel
France Occitanie 81 Penne 04.jpg, Street in Penne
Penne () are an extruded type of pasta in the shape of tubular pieces with ends cut at an angle. They are usually made from wheat flour.
Etymology
''Penne'' is the plural form of the Italian ''penna'' (meaning "feather", but "pen" as well), de ...
See also
* Cantons of the Tarn department
*Communes of the Tarn department
The following is a list of the 314 communes of the Tarn department of France.
The communes cooperate in the following intercommunalities (as of 2025):
*Arrondissements of the Tarn department
The 2 arrondissements of the Tarn department are:
# Arrondissement of Albi, (prefecture of the Tarn department: Albi) with 163 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 195,484 in 2021.
# Arrondissement of Castres, (subprefecture: ...
*Tourism in Tarn
The Tarn (department), Tarn department is located in the southwest of France.
Statistics
In 2009, there were:
* Nightly rentals: 8.6 million
* Beds available: 23,100
* Business hotels represented 305,000 tourists for a total of 470,200 nights
...
References
External links
Departmental Council website
Prefecture website
Discover Tarn – Comité Départemental du Tourisme du Tarn
Photos of the Tarn
{{Authority control
1790 establishments in France
Departments of Occitania (administrative region)
States and territories established in 1790
Massif Central