the department of ardèche was created on 4 march 1790 with seven districts: annonay, aubenas, l'argentière, privas, tournon, vernoux and villeneuve-de-berg. the capital was privas alternating with annonay, aubenas, le bourg(-saint-andéol) and tournon. in august of that year, the number of districts was reduced to three: mézenc, aubenas and tanargue. in september, privas became the only capital of the department.