Many centuries ago Franche Comte was part of Burgundy but in modern times Franche Comte comprises of the departments Doubs, Haute-Saône, Jura and the Territoire de Belfort. In some parts of the region a dialect known as Franc-Comtois is still spoken by some.

Principle towns include Belfort which is known for its music festival the Festival International de Musique Universitaire which brings together up to 2 thousand musicians each year and is usually held in May.

Besançon is the capital of Franche Comte and is located at the base of the mountainous area called the Jura Massif which are named after the rocks that formed the mountain range - Jura. The picturesque old town of Besançon is called "la Boucle" and it sits astride a meandering horshoe bend in the Doubs river. Besançon is also home to a world famous astronomical clock which is housed in the cathedral of Saint-Jean.

Franche Comte enjoys low rainfall and a climate of cold but dry winters and warm but wet summers. Its terrain and elevation make it an ideal destination for cross country skiing and it is home to more than 2,000 km of ski tracks particularly in the Jura area.

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