or slates or beaten from metal. The lakes are perfect for swimming in the warmer months. The summits of Haut Jura have wonderful views across (Lake Geneva) and toward the Alps. Forty percent of the region's GDP is dependent on manufacturing activities, and most of its production is exported. Construction of automobiles and their parts is one of the most buoyant industries there. Forestry exploitation is steadily growing, and 38% of the agriculture is dairy and 17% cattle farming. The region has a large and lucrative cheese-making industry, with 40 million tonnes of cheese produced here each year, much of which is made by fruitières (traditional cheese dairies of Franche-Comté); for instance, Comté cheese comes from this region. Geology Vosges and Jura coal mining basins Principal cities Language Among the regional languages of France, the term Franc-comtois refers to two dialects of two different languages. Franc-comtois is the name of the dialect of Langue d'Oïl spoken by people in the northern part of the region. The dialect of Arpitan has been spoken in its southern part since as early as the thirteenth century (the southern two-thirds of Jura and the southern third of Doubs). Both are recognized as languages of France. People from Franche-Comté Raymond Blanc, chef Jean-Jacques Boissard, neo-Latin poet Paul de Casteljau, mathematician Gustave Courbet, painter Frank Darabont, filmmaker Charles Fourier, philosopher Salah Gaham, concierge Victor Hugo, poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist Auguste and Louis Lumière, early filmmakers Jean Mairet, dramatist Jacques de Molay, last Grandmaster of the Knights Templar Charles Nodier, author Louis Pasteur, chemist and microbiologist Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, Burgundian statesman, leading minister of the Spanish Habsburgs Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle, minister of justice under Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Pierre-Joseph Proudhon philosopher, socialist Jean Baptiste Alexandre Strolz Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Suard, journalist Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine, singer and songwriter Louis Vuitton, designer Arnaud Courlet de Vregille, painter Typical regional products Wine: Vin jaune, Arbois Cheese: Cancoillotte, Bleu de Gex, Comté, Édel de Cléron, Metton, Morbier, Munster, Vacherin Mont d'Or Sausages: Saucisse de Montbéliard, saucisse de Morteau, Gendarme References External links Franche-Comté : land of contrasts - Official French website (in English) Conseil régional de Franche-Comté Official website Franche-Comté directory search engine NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union Former regions of France