

Fantastic Mountains
Capital: Besancon Regional President: Raymond Forni (since 2004) Departments: Doubs, Haute-Saone, Jura, Territoire de Belfort
Franche-Comte (the former “Free County” of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy) is a region and a traditional province of eastern France. It is formed by the modern departments of Doubs, Jura, Haute-Saone and Territoire de Belfort and has a population (in 2005) of 1,143,000.
The principal cities are Besancon (the historical and modern capital of the region), Belfort, and Montbeliard (Aire Urbaine Belfort-Montbeliard-Hericourt-Delle). Other important cities are Dole (capital before the region was conquered by Louis XIV in the late 17th century, Vesoul (capital of Haute-Saone), Arbois (the “wine capital” of the Jura), and Lons-le-Saunier (capital of Jura).
Haute-Saone and Jura remain among the country’s more agriculture-dependent areas.
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