Franche-Comte
Franche-Comté (the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy) is a région and a traditional province of eastern France. It is formed by the modern départements of Doubs, Jura, Haute-Saône and Territoire de Belfort and has a population (2005) of 1,143,000.
The principal cities are Besançon (the historical and modern capital of the région), Belfort, and Montbéliard (Aire Urbaine Belfort-Montbéliard-Héricourt-Delle). Other important cities are Dole (capital before the region was conquered by Louis XIV in the late 17th century), Vesoul (capital of Haute-Saône), Arbois (the "wine capital" of the Jura), and Lons-le-Saunier (capital of Jura).
Franche-Comte Location
Franche-Comte is located on the eastern side on France adjacent to Switzerland with Lake Geneva at the southern tip. Bounded by Rhone-Alpes, Burgundy, Champagne-Ardenne, Lorraine and Alsace. The departments of the region are Doubs, Haute-Saône, Jura, Territoire de Belfort.
Franche-Comte Landscape
Here you can discover wide open spaces and freedom - forests, mountains and valleys, lakes (in fact, 24 large lakes plus a myriad of smaller ones) and a vast network of rivers; From the historical perspective, numerous monuments and sites of exceptional interest.
Franche-Comte Attractions
Franche-Comte is well known for its Gruyère cheese, cross-country skiing in winter and for canoeing and hiking in summer in the beautiful Jura mountain range.
Besançon has a reputation for innovation in industries as diverse as optics, electronics, acoustics, climate control and automation. There are many science parks in the area. It is a former centre of watch-making excellence.
Among the attractions of Territoire de Belfort is the Lion de Belfort statue by Bartoldi (the sculptor of New York´s Statue of Liberty).
Franche-Comte Weather
Winters tend to be quite cold and very similar to those in the UK. Summer is relatively hot and sunny!
