Handwoven aubusson rugs and carpets take its name from the French town of Aubusson, a small picture-sque town situated close to the mountains of the Massif Central and lying on the banks of the River Creuse. Although this medieval town ceased to produce rugs over 130 years ago, it was at one time the very centre of Europe's rug manufacturing industry. The town continues to host a number of rug and tapestry exhibitions each summer. The production of Aubusson rugs is thought to have begun in the 17th century and was carried out by a group of skilled, independent weavers who each followed the specific design and style of the Aubusson technique. This involves interlacing the carpets using a thick-thread weave on large looms to create a flat tapestry with no plie.