L'Albenc is a commune in the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Albinois, or Albinoises Geography The commune lies in a straight line some 25 kilometres west by north-west of Grenoble, 20 kilometres south-west of Voiron and 40 kilometres northeast of Romans-sur-Isere in the lower Gresivaudan valley. The highest point of the commune is at 437 metres overlooking the hamlets of Chapuisière and Pierre Brun. The lowest point is on the banks of the Isère at 170 metres. The main peaks in the commune are the Malan (373 metres) just south of the town, Mount Larron (384 metres), and the Côte Belle peaking at 437 metres. The commune lies on the opposite side of the mountains from Grenoble so can not be reached directly from there. The A49 autoroute from Saint-Quentin-sur-Isère in the north-east passes south-west through the eastern part of the commune and continues towards Romans-sur-Isère in the south-west. There is however no exit to the commune from this autoroute and access is by road D1092 from Vinay in the south-west passing north-east through the town and continuing north by north-east to Tullins. The D35 road also goes from the village south-east over a tortuous mountain route eventually joining the D531 road in the south. There are many small roads covering the whole commune which is mixed forest with some farmland. In addition to the town there is the village of Riquetiere in the south on the right bank of the Isère. A railway line passes through the commune from Vinay in the south and passes through a tunnel to exit the commune in the north-east. There is no station in the commune with the nearest station being at Vinay. The south-western border of the commune is the Isère river although there is a small portion of the commune on the left bank. The Leze stream rises in the north of the commune and passes through the village before turning east to join the Isere. The Fosse des Mortes also flows into the Isere in the north-east of the commune. The Versoud flows into the Isère from the part of the commune on the left bank. Neighbouring communes and villages Toponymy L'Albenc appeared in the forms: Albencium in the 14th century and Albenco in 1497. Several theories attempt to explain the origin of the name of this commune.