Doubs (, ; ; frp, Dubs) is a

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France. Named after the river Doubs, it had a population of 543,974 in 2019.Populations légales 2019: 25 Doubs
INSEE Its

prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...

is Besançon and subprefectures are Montbéliard and Pontarlier.

History

As early as the 13th century, inhabitants of the northern two-thirds of Doubs spoke

Franc-Comtois Frainc-Comtou (french: franc-comtois) is a Romance language of the '' langues d'oïl'' language family spoken in the Franche-Comté region of France and in the Canton of Jura and Bernese Jura in Switzerland. Sample vocabulary References Bi ...

, a dialect of the ''

langues d'oïl The ''langues d'oïl'' (; ) are a dialect continuum that includes standard French and its closest autochthonous relatives historically spoken in the northern half of France, southern Belgium, and the Channel Islands. These belong to the larger ...

''. Residents of the southern third of Doubs spoke a dialect of the Arpitan language. Both languages co-existed with French, the official language of law and commerce, and continued to be spoken frequently in rural areas into the 20th century. They are both still spoken today but not on a daily basis. Doubs was important as a portal to

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

through the pass at Cluse de Pontarlier. Many famous people, including Mirabeau, Toussaint Louverture and Heinrich von Kleist, were imprisoned in the Château de Joux. Doubs is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of

Franche-Comté Franche-Comté (, ; ; Frainc-Comtou: ''Fraintche-Comtè''; frp, Franche-Comtât; also german: Freigrafschaft; es, Franco Condado; all ) is a cultural and historical region of eastern France. It is composed of the modern departments of Doubs, ...

. The

(capital) is Besançon. In 1793, the republic of Mandeure was annexed by France and incorporated into the department. This district was passed between various territories and departments in the ensuing administrative reorganisations and wars, but was restored to Doubs in 1816 when the former principality of Montbéliard was also added to the department. However, the commune of

Le Cerneux-Péquignot Le Cerneux-Péquignot is a municipality in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. History Le Cerneux-Péquignot is first mentioned in the 13th century in connection with the Pequignot of Montlebon family. Geography Le Cerneux-Péquignot has ...

was annexed by the

Canton of Neuchâtel The Republic and Canton of Neuchâtel (french: République et Canton de Neuchâtel); rm, Chantun Neuchâtel; it, Cantone di Neuchâtel is a French-speaking canton in western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,782, of whom 39,654 (o ...

under the terms of the 1814 Treaty of Paris, and since remained Swiss territory. Between the defeat of France at the Battle of Waterloo and November 1818, Doubs was included in the area occupied by

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

troops.

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...

, Gustave Courbet,

Armand Peugeot Armand Peugeot (; 18 February 1849 – 4 February 1915) was an industrialist in France, pioneer of the automobile industry and the man who transformed Peugeot into a manufacturer of bicycles and, later, of automobiles. He was accepted into the Au ...

, Auguste and Louis Lumière and Frank Darabont are among the famous people born in Doubs.

Geography

Doubs is part of the current region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and is surrounded by the French departments of Jura, Haute-Saône, and Territoire de Belfort, and the Swiss cantons of Vaud,

Neuchâtel , neighboring_municipalities= Auvernier, Boudry, Chabrey (VD), Colombier, Cressier, Cudrefin (VD), Delley-Portalban (FR), Enges, Fenin-Vilars-Saules, Hauterive, Saint-Blaise, Savagnier , twintowns = Aarau (Switzerland), Besançon (France), ...

, and Jura. The department is dominated by the

Jura mountains The Jura Mountains ( , , , ; french: Massif du Jura; german: Juragebirge; it, Massiccio del Giura, rm, Montagnas da Jura) are a sub-alpine mountain range a short distance north of the Western Alps and mainly demarcate a long part of the Frenc ...

, which rise east of Besançon.

Principal towns

The most populous commune is Besançon, the prefecture. As of 2019, there are 5 communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants:

Demographics

The inhabitants of the department are called ''Doubiens''. Population development since 1791:

Politics

The President of the Departmental Council is Christine Bouquin ( DVD).

National Assembly Representatives

Economy

The Doubs department is at the same time the greenest and the most industrialized in France. It is the birthplace of the automotive manufacturer Peugeot.

Tourism

The castle of Joux and Besançon are important tourist destinations.

Notable people

Paul-Claude Racamier Paul-Claude Racamier (; 20 May 1924 – 18 August 1996) was a French psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, born in Doubs Doubs (, ; ; frp, Dubs) is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France. Named after the river Doubs, ...

(1924–1996), psychiatrist and psychoanalyst * Arnaud Courlet de Vregille (1958-), French painter

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 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 Lods () is a commune in the Doubs département in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France. Geography Lods is located southeast of Ornans in the valley of the Loue River. History It is first documented in 1189, and there are ar ...

, one of the most beautiful villages of France

Bibliography

* Hoffmann, Michael, ''Die französischen Konservativen in der katholischen Provinz Parteigenese und politische Kultur im Doubs (1900–1930)'' (Frankfurt am Main u.a., Peter Lang, 2008) (Moderne Geschichte und Politik, 22).

References

External links

*
Prefecture website
*
Departmental Council website
{{Authority control 1790 establishments in France Departments of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté States and territories established in 1790