Aubenton () is a commune in the department of Aisne in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France.
Geography Aubenton derives its name from its location near the confluence (in the commune of Hannappes to the east) of the Aube and the Thon.
The commune is located some 70 km east of Saint-Quentin and 40 km west by northwest of Charleville-Mézières. The D 1043 (E44) road from Hirson to Charleville-Mézières runs along the northern border of the commune. The town can be accessed from this road by the D 5 road running southeast or the D 37 road running south-west. The D 5 road continues through the commune and south, changing to the D 977, and continuing to Rozoy-sur-Serre. The D 37 road continues west from the village to Besmont. There is also the D 38 road from Leuze in the west passing through the village and continuing to Hannappes in the east. The railway from Hirson to Charleville-Mézières also passes through the commune following the course of the river Thon but there is no station in the commune, the nearest being at Liart to the east. The commune is about 80% farmland with the rest extensive forests in the south. There are a number of hamlets other than the village. These are:
Bas Val La Caure Buirefontaine Haute Val la Caure Hurtebise La Rue Larcher Le Bois Carbonnet Ribeauville Saint-Nicholas
The river Thon flows from east to west through the north of the commune eventually joining the Oise at Étréaupont. The Ruisseau du Bois Carbonnet rises in the south of the commune, discharging into the Ruisseau de l'Étang Polliart, a tributary of the Thon.
Aubenton is surrounded by 7 communes: Brunehamel, Iviers, Beaumé, Leuze, Any-Martin-Rieux, Logny-lès-Aubenton, and Mont-Saint-Jean.Map of Aubenton, consulted on 6 January 2012, Géoportail,
Neighbouring communes and villages
Google Maps
History
Second World War The department of Aisne has 10 people designated "Righteous Among the Nations" (French people who helped Jews during the war), of whom 3 were from Aubenton: Emile FontaineThe Judenlager of Mazures 1942-1944 (a street bears his name) Annette Pierron, his girlfriend at the time Camille Pierron, mother of Annette and the owner of a farm at Buirefontaine
Shot by the Gestapo on the Aubenton-Besmont road (D37) on 30 March 1944, Emile Fontaine was recognized as a captain in the French Forces of the Interior (FFI) after the Liberation. All three had saved 10 escapees from the "Judenlager of Mazures" who hid for a time at Buirefontaine.It was based on a dossier containing the testimony of one of the escapees, Nathan Szuster, that Yad Vashem officially awarded them the title of "Righteous among the Nations".
Heraldry
Administration List of Successive Mayors of AubentonList of Mayors of France
From To Name 1640 1648 Roland Dobsen 1848 1649 Dormet 1649 1688 Nicolas Deswatines 1688 1694 Dormet 1694 1704 Jean Grégoire de l'Etang-Neuf 1704 1708 Martin Brucelle 1708 1753 Louis Dambraine 1754 1763 Jacques Coyer 1763 1790 Jacques Pierre Coyer 1790 1800 Louis Antoine Sorlin 1800 1816 Nicolas de Villelongue 1816 1830 Joseph Petit 1830 1831 Edouard Marie Louis Ternaux 1831 1836 César Millet 1836 1840 Paul Emile Barbier 1840 1848 Célestin Landragin 1848 1849 Joseph Millet 1848 1850 Joseph Prud'homme 1850 1870 Célestin Landragin 1871 1902 Isidore Cabaret 1902 1909 Henri Cabaret 1908 1914 Juramie 1914 1919 Procureur 1919 1926 Fernand Dizy
Mayors from 1926
From To Name Party Position 1926 1946 Henri Bouxin 1946 1971 Charles Dejume 1971 1973 Marcel Ferraris 1973 1983 Guy Navaux 1983 1989 Christian Pillot 1989 2001 René Sablin PCF 2001 2013 Bernard Noé UMP General Council Member (2001-2013) 2013 2020 Denise CharlierPolitics? A case of women in the Canton, Michel Mainnevret, L'Union, 17 June 2013, consulted on 17 June 2013 DVD 2020 incumbent Bernard Grehant
Population
Culture and heritage The commune has a very large number of buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments. An abridged list of the most prominent historical monuments is shown below.
Civil heritage The Girls' School (1876)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The War memorial (1920)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Town Hall (1868).Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Town Hall contains two items that are registered as historical objects: A Bust: Marianne (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Bust: Lieutenant André Bouxin (20th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Le Chalet Industrial House (1906).Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The house contains a Fountain (19th century) which is registered as an historical object.Ministry of Culture, Palissy The Railway Station (1885)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The old Hotel Collin (13th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée now the Jean Mermoz Museum. The Museum contains several items which are registered as historical objects: A Bas-relief: Arms surmounted by lions (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Bust: Jean Mermoz (20th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Bas-relief: Jean Mermoz as an aviator (1937)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Bas-relief: Jean Mermoz (20th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Lamp called the Lampedaire of Jean Mermoz (1913)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Jean Mermoz's Cradle (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Commemorative plaque for Jean Mermoz (1937)Ministry of Culture, Palissy The old Flour Mill (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The old City Walls (14th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée of which only two remain of the original seven towers: the Tour de Chimay (in the Tower lane) has been transformed into a cottage managed by the commune. Another tower on private land is visible from the road along the Thon
Religious heritage The Fortified Parish Church of Notre-Dame (12th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée There are also a very large number of registered historical objects contained in the Church. A Funeral Monument to André Bouxin (1884).Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The monument is surmounted by a large Statue: André Bouxin in a lieutenant's uniform (1925) which is registered as an historical object.Ministry of Culture, Palissy
Photo gallery
Notable people linked to the commune Jean Mermoz, aviator. Joseph Nelson Soye, doctor and MP Emile Fontaine, Annette Pierron, and Camille Pierron, resistance fighters and "Righteous Among the Nations"
See also Communes of the Aisne department
References
External links
Inventory of Cultural Heritage for the Canton of Aubenton Inventory of cultural heritage for the Commune of Aubenton Aubenton on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website Aubenton on the 1750 Cassini Map