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Aubenas
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A small but prosperous and surprisingly industrial town of around 12,000 people,
AUBENAS
sits in the middle of the southern part of the ArdA?che
dA©partement
high up on a hill overlooking the middle valley of the River ArdA?che. It is 91km southeast of Le Puy and 42km west of MontA©limar. With a character and non-tourist-dependent economy of its own, it makes a much better base than places further downstream around Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, with their nightmarish crowds.
The central knot of streets with their cobbles and bridges, occupying the highest point of town around place de l'HA?tel-de-Ville , have great charm, particularly towards place de la Grenette and place 14-Juillet. Place de l'HA?tel-de-Ville is dominated by the old feudal chA?teau , from which the local seigneurs ruled the area right up until the Revolution (guided tours: April-June & Sept Tues & Thurs-Sat tour at 2pm; July & Aug daily 11am-5pm; Oct & Dec-March Tues, Thurs & Sat tour at 2pm; 20F/a?¬3.05). There's a magnificent view of the ArdA?che snaking up the valley below from under an arch beside the castle, as there is from the end of bd Gambetta 200m downhill, where the tourist office is located on the corner (July & Aug daily 9am-12.30pm & 1.30-7pm; rest of year Mon-Sat 9am-noon & 2-6pm, Sun 10am-noon; tel 04.75.89.02.03, ot.aubenas.ardeche@en-france.com ).
For somewhere to
stay
, it's hard to beat the old-fashioned
HA?tel des NA©gociants
, right next to the chA?teau on place de l'HA?tel-de-Ville (tel 04.75.35.18.74; under 160F/a?¬24; closed Oct), which does nourishing meals from 42F/a?¬6.40. A good alternative is
HA?tel l'Orangerie
, at 7 allA©es de la Guingette (tel 04.75.35.30.42, fax 04.75.93.01.03; 220-300F/a?¬34-46), in a fairly quiet location just outside the old town. There's a municipal
campsite
on Route de Lazuel (tel 04.75.35.18.15). CafA©s and brasseries line boulevard de Vernon on the south side of town; for fancier and more expensive places to
eat
, try
Le Fournil
, 34 rue du 4-Septembre, at the end of BA©ranger-de-la-Tour, in the heart of the old town (closed Sun evening & Mon; from 98F/a?¬14.94), or
Le Chat Qui PA?che
, nearby on place de la Grenette (closed Tues & Wed except in July & Aug; from 98F/a?¬14.94). Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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France,
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