Aubenton
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 D1043 (E44) road from Hirson to Charleville-Mézières runs along the northern border of the commune. The village can be accessed from this road by the D5 road running southeast or the D37 road running  south-west. The D5 road continues through the commune and south, changing to the D977, and continuing to Rozoy-sur-Serre. The D37 road continues west from the village to Besmont. There is also the D38 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: The river Thon flows from east to west through the north of the commune eventually joining the Oise at Etreaupont. 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. 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: 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. Administration. List of Successive Mayors of Aubenton 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.