Doubs
Doubs is a department in eastern France. It is in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region. It is named after the Doubs river.
The largest city in the department, and its prefecture (capital), is the city of Besancon.
History
Doubs is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790 with Besancon as its capital. It was formed from part of the old province of Franche-Comte.
It was divided in six districts: Besancon, 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: Besancon, Baume-les-Dames, Pontarlier and Saint-Hippolyte. In 1816, the subprefecture of Saint-Hippolyte is moved to Montbeliard.
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-Comte region. It has an area of .
The department borders with 3 departments of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region (Jura, Haute-Saone and Territoire de Belfort) and 3 cantons of Switzerland (Vaud, Neuchatel 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 Koppen climate classification type for the climate at Besancon is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Marine West Coast Climate) and of the subtype Cfb.
The average temperature for the year in Besancon 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 Besancon 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 Besancon. The department is part of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region.
Administrative divisions
There are 3 arrondissements (districts), 19 cantons and 578 communes (municipalities) in Saone-et-Loire.
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)
Besancon-1 (2504)
Besancon-2 (2505)
Besancon-3 (2506)
Besancon-4 (2507)
Besancon-5 (2508)
Besancon-6 (2509)
Bethoncourt (2510)
Frasne (2511)
Maiche (2512)
Montbeliard (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 Besancon, 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:
Places of interest
Some places of interest are:
The Citadel of Besancon.
The Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans.
The castle of Montbeliard.
The Fort de Joux.
The village of Lods.
Gallery
Related pages
Arrondissements of the Doubs department
Communes of the Doubs department
References
Other websites
Departmental Council website
Prefecture website
Doubs Tourisme