Doubs

**Doubs** is a department in eastern France. It is in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. It is named after the Doubs river.

The largest city in the department, and its prefecture (capital), is the city of Besançon.

## History

Doubs is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790 with Besançon as its capital. It was formed from part of the old province of _Franche-Comté_.

It was divided in six districts: Besançon, Baume-les-Dames, Saint-Hippolyte, Pontarlier, Quingey and Ornans. In 1800, with the creation of the _arrondissements_ in France, the six districts were changed into four _arrondissements_: Besançon, Baume-les-Dames, Pontarlier and Saint-Hippolyte. In 1816, the subprefecture of Saint-Hippolyte is moved to Montbéliard.

After the Battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815), the department was occupied by the Austrian army from June 1815 to November 1818.

On 10 September 1926, the _arrondissement_ of Baume-les-Dames was eliminated.

## Geography

Doubs is part of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. It has an area of .

The department borders with 3 departments of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region (Jura, Haute-Saône and Territoire de Belfort) and 3 cantons of Switzerland (Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura).

The Doubs department is partially on the Jura Mountains, mainly the eastern part of the department on the border with Switzerland. The highest point in the department is Mont d'Or (),  high; it is on the border between the _communes_ Jougne and Longevilles-Mont-d'Or at about  to the south of the city of Pontarlier. The lowest point is where the Ognon leaves the department,  high.

The main rivers in the department are the Doubs, that gives its name to the department, the Ognon and the Loue (tributary of the Doubs).

### Climate

The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Besançon is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Marine West Coast Climate) and of the subtype **Cfb**.

The average temperature for the year in Besançon is . The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of . The coolest month, on average is January, with an average temperature of .

The average amount of precipitation for the year in Besançon is . The month with the most precipitation on average is September with  of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is February with an average of .

## Administration

Doubs is managed by the _Departmental Council of Doubs_ in Besançon. The department is part of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

### Administrative divisions

There are 3 _arrondissements_ (districts), 19 _cantons_ and 578 _communes_ (municipalities) in Saône-et-Loire.

|INSEE code !! Arrondissement !! Capital !! Population <small>(2014)</small> !! width=60px | Area <small>(km²)</small> !! Density <small>(Inh./km²)</small> !! _Communes_|||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|251|Besançon|Besançon|248,199|1,942.2||260|
|252|Montbéliard|Montbéliard|176,670|1,255.7||169|
|253|Pontarlier|Pontarlier|109,841|2,034.7||149|

The following is a list of the 19 cantons of the Doubs department (with their INSEE codes), following the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015:

1. Audincourt <small>(2501)</small>
1. Baume-les-Dames <small>(2502)</small>
1. Bavans <small>(2503)</small>
1. Besançon-1 <small>(2504)</small>
1. Besançon-2 <small>(2505)</small>
1. Besançon-3 <small>(2506)</small>
1. Besançon-4 <small>(2507)</small>
1. Besançon-5 <small>(2508)</small>
1. Besançon-6 <small>(2509)</small>
1. Bethoncourt <small>(2510)</small>
1. Frasne <small>(2511)</small>
1. Maîche <small>(2512)</small>
1. Montbéliard <small>(2513)</small>
1. Morteau <small>(2514)</small>
1. Ornans <small>(2515)</small>
1. Pontarlier <small>(2516)</small>
1. Saint-Vit <small>(2517)</small>
1. Valdahon <small>(2518)</small>
1. Valentigney <small>(2519)</small>

## Demographics

The inhabitants of Doubs are known, in French, as _Doubistes_, or _Doubiens_ (women: _Doubiennes_).

Doubs had a population, in 2014, of 534,710, for a population density of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>. The _arrondissement_ of Besançon, with 248,199 inhabitants, is the _arrondissement_ with more inhabitants.

**Evolution of the population in Doubs**

The cities with more than inhabitants in the department are:

|City|Population <small>(2014)</small>|Arrondissement|
| --- | --- | --- |
|Besançon|116,690|Besançon|
|Montbéliard|25,521|Montbéliard|
|Pontarlier|17,413|Pontarlier|
|Audincourt|14,131|Montbéliard|
|Valentigney|9,970|Montbéliard|
|Morteau|6,827|Pontarlier|
|Seloncourt|5,906|Montbéliard|
|Bethoncourt|5,729|Montbéliard|
|Grand-Charmont|5,535|Montbéliard|
|Valdahon|5,344|Pontarlier|

## Places of interest

Some places of interest are:
- The Citadel of Besançon.
- The _Royal Saltworks_ at Arc-et-Senans.
- The castle of Montbéliard.
- The _Fort de Joux_.
- The village of Lods.

## Related pages

- Arrondissements of the Doubs department
- Communes of the Doubs department

## Other websites

- Departmental Council website
- Prefecture website
- Doubs Tourisme

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Doubs
- **type**: Departments of France, Department
- **image skyline**: Préfecture du Doubs (façade sur jardin) (adjusted).jpg
- **image alt**: Prefecture building of the Doubs department, in Besançon
- **image caption**: Prefectures in France, Prefecture building of the Doubs department, in Besançon
- **image flag**: Proposed flag of Doubs.svg
- **flag size**: 125px
- **image shield**: Blason département fr Doubs.svg
- **shield alt**: Coat of arms
- **image map**: Doubs-Position.svg
- **map caption**: Doubs in France
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision name**: France
- **subdivision type1**: Regions of France, Region
- **subdivision name1**: Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
- **established title**: Département
- **established date**: 4 March 1790
- **seat type**: Prefectures in France, Prefecture
- **seat**: Besançon
- **parts type**: Prefectures in France, Subprefectures
- **parts style**: para
- **p1**: Montbéliard
- **p2**: Pontarlier
- **leader title**: President of the Departmental Council, President
- **leader name**: Christine Bouquin
- **unit pref**: Metric
- **area total km2**: 5232.6
- **population total**: 534710
- **population as of**: 2014
- **population density km2**: auto
- **population demonym**: Doubistes
- **blank name sec2**: Arrondissements of France, Arrondissements
- **blank info sec2**: 3
- **blank1 name sec2**: Cantons in France, Cantons
- **blank1 info sec2**: 19
- **blank2 name sec2**: Communes in France, Communes
- **blank2 info sec2**: 578
- **timezone1**: Central European Time, CET
- **utc offset1**: +1
- **timezone1 dst**: Central European Summer Time, CEST
- **utc offset1 dst**: +2
- **iso code**: FR-25
- **website**: [http://www.doubs.fr/ www.doubs.fr]