Doubs

Doubs ( DOO; French: [du] ; Arpitan: Dubs) is an administrative department in the northeastern French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Named after the river Doubs, it had a population of 547,163 in 2023. Its prefecture is Besançon and subprefectures are Montbéliard and Pontarlier. Situated in the east of France and the east of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, it shares a border with Switzerland of almost 170 km and most of its territory is located in the Jura Mountains. Its highest point is the Mont d'Or (1,463 m), and the three main rivers that flow through it are the Doubs, the Ognon and the Loue. Economically, the Doubs département is one of the most industrialised in France, specialising in car manufacturing with the historic location of the Peugeot plant (Stellantis group) in Sochaux, metalworking and food processing. The Doubs is also home to many companies in the microtechnology sector, as well as being the historic cradle of the French watchmaking industry. Its agriculture, mainly focused on livestock and milk production, is symbolised by cheeses such as comté, mont d'or, morbier, and cancoillotte, and by charcuteries such as Morteau sausage, Montbéliard sausage, and smoked ham. The department's main tourist attractions are the citadel of Besançon and the Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as the Château de Joux. The Doubs is renowned for its many remarkable natural sites, including the Lac de Saint-Point, the Saut du Doubs, the sources of the Doubs, Loue and Lison rivers, the Cirque de Consolation, the Grotte d'Osselle and the Gouffre de Poudrey.