This region comprises only three departments (Haute-Saône, the territory of Belfort and the Jura) and these are amongst the least populous in France, since they have a total population of only slightly over a million inhabitants.

Jura landscape, Joux castle (Franche-Comté)

The north of the region was hard hit by the recession and lost a quarter of jobs in industry during the 1980s. Metallurgy is still the most important industry, with the automotive sector represented by Peugeot at Sochaux-Montbéliard and many small and medium-sized businesses.

Besançon (Franche-Comté)

The south is mountainous, with lakes, forests and meadows making the region one of the greenest in France. Livestock farming is the chief agricultural activity.