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Doubs (département)

Doubs
Department
Prefecture building of the Doubs department, in Besançon
Prefecture building of the Doubs department, in Besançon
Flag of Doubs
Flag
Coat of arms of Doubs
Coat of arms
Location of Doubs in France
Location of Doubs in France
Coordinates: 47°10′N 06°25′E / 47.167°N 6.417°E / 47.167; 6.417Coordinates: 47°10′N 06°25′E / 47.167°N 6.417°E / 47.167; 6.417
Country France
Region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Prefecture Besançon
Subprefectures Montbéliard
Pontarlier
Government
 • President of the General Council Claude Jeannerot (PS)
Area
 • Total 5,234 km2 (2,021 sq mi)
Population (2013)
 • Total 533,320
 • Rank 50th
 • Density 100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Department number 25
Arrondissements 3
Cantons 19
Communes 578
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Doubs (French pronunciation: ​[du]; Arpitan: Dubs) is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France named after the Doubs River.

As early as the 13th century, inhabitants of the northern two-thirds of Doubs spoke Franc-Comtois, a dialect of Langue d'Oïl. 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 through the pass at Joux. 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. The prefecture (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.


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