Territoire de Belfort

Territoire de Belfort is a French administrative area in eastern Bourgogne-Franche-Comté that borders Switzerland and sits between the Vosges and Jura mountains. It covers 609 square kilometers (235 square miles) and includes 102 communes, with the city of Belfort serving as its center and largest settlement.

The Treaty of Frankfurt in 1871 separated this area from Alsace and allowed it to remain under French control while surrounding regions were annexed by Germany. This division shaped the region for decades and turned it into a border zone between two nations.

The name originates from a 14th-century fortified town that controlled a natural gap between the Vosges mountains and the Jura range. Travelers today notice the defensive walls and military architecture that remain visible across several towns, reflecting the area's long role as a border zone.

Highways and rail lines cross the area and connect it directly to Switzerland and other French regions. Travelers find access to surrounding mountains and can use the region as a starting point for trips into the Vosges or Jura ranges.

This administrative area carries number 90 in the French departmental system and forms the last digit in the official list. The number appears on license plates and postal codes and makes the area instantly recognizable within French administrative order.

Location: Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Inception: September 7, 1871

Capital city: Belfort

Reference: 90

Shares border with: Haut-Rhin, Doubs, Haute-Saône, Vosges, Canton of Jura

Website: http://territoire-belfort.gouv.fr

GPS coordinates: 47.63820,6.86140

Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:03