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. 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 .

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:

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

## 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/km2. The *arrondissement* of Besançon, with 248,199 inhabitants, is the *arrondissement* with more inhabitants.

**Evolution of the population in Doubs**

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The cities with more than inhabitants in the department are:

## 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.

## Gallery

File:Besancon boucle Doubs.jpg|The citadel and the old town of Besançon in a meander of the Doubs.
File:France arc et senas saline royal main building 1.jpg|*Royal Saltworks* at Arc-et-Senans.
File:2009-05-03 Montbeliard 108.JPG|Montbéliard castle.
File:Château de Joux - Vue du belvédère de la Fauconnière.JPG|*Fort de Joux*.
File:0 Lods - Le village et la Loue (1).JPG|Lods, one of the most beautiful villages of France.
File:Doubs Laissey.jpg|The Doubs river is the main river of the department.

## Related pages
* Arrondissements of the Doubs department
* Communes of the Doubs department

## References
## Other websites
* Departmental Council website  
* Prefecture website  
* Doubs Tourisme