Aubenas is a commune in the southern part of the Ardèche department in the Rhône Valley in southern France.It is the seat of several government offices. The surrounding countryside, which is mountainous and rugged; is popular for vacation homes.The Ardèche River flows through the commune.Aubenas is part of the "Pays d'Aubenas-Vals", composed of 10 towns and villages including Vals-les-Bains, for approximately 23,000 people. Aside from a long-year commercial activity, Aubenas has a good strategic position on the tourist field, at crossroads of a regional natural park, the zone of the Ardèche river canyon, and the start of mountains.The chestnut industry is one testimony of the intense agricultural activity earlier in time.EtymologyThe root alb-, meaning a height, is present in the name of the city . And in fact, it is sat on the strategic position of a limestone base overlooking the valley of Ardèche. Due to the long distance from a water source, the city was known informally as the city without water until the 19th century, when on 28 June 1863, under the leadership of the then Mayor John Mathon, water was pumped from an external source which fed 50 fountains across the city. At the foot of the promontory pass route of Montélimar to Le Puy-en-Velay, lies the oldest axis of movement between the Rhone valley and the mountains of Auvergne. The privileged location between l'Ardèche méridionale and l'Ardèche verte allowed for a crossroads between different types of agriculture and business.