Besançon

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Administrative centre of the département of Doubs and of the Franche-Comté region of France, situated on the River Doubs 75 km/47 mi east of Dijon; population (1999) 117,700. It is an agricultural trading centre and industries include the manufacture of textiles, processed foods, cars, and paper. It is the principal French centre for the manufacture of watches and clocks, and has a school of watch-making. It also has a university. The first factory to produce artificial fibres was established here in 1890.

The French writer Victor Hugo (1802–1885) and the Lumière brothers Auguste Marie Louis Nicolas (1862–1954) and Louis Jean (1864–1948), inventors of cinematography, were born here.

The central band was widened in 1995. Red recalls the previous flag of the Kharijite Muslims. Effective date: 18 November 1995. >>