DOLE, a town of France, capital of a cognominal arrondissement in the department of Jura; situated on the declivity of a hill, on the right bank of the Doubs, and on the canal between the Rhone and Rhine; 28 miles N. of Lons-le-Saunier. Pop. (1851) 9913. It is the seat of a tribunal of primary instance, and has a Jesuit college, agricultural society, school of design, and a public library of about 6000 volumes. It is pleasantly situated and well built. The principal public buildings are the Hall of Justice; the Church of Notre Dame, a Gothic edifice; the Hôtel-Dieu; the new prison; barracks; two hospitals; and the ancient tower of Vergy, now used as a prison. Part of the Roman road leading from Lyons to the Rhine, and remains of a Roman aqueduct and theatre, are to be found here. Among its manufactures are straw hats, hosiery, leather, chemicals, and agricultural implements; and its trade in agricultural produce, wood, iron, marble, &c., is considerable. Dole is a place of great antiquity, and was at one time the capital of the Franche-Comté and the seat of a parliament and university. In 1479 it was taken by Louis XI., when the greater part of the town was destroyed, and many of its inhabitants were put to the sword. It subsequently came into the hands of the Spaniards, and was fortified by Charles V. in 1530. In 1636 it was ineffectually besieged by the Prince of Condé. In 1668 it was taken by the French; and again in 1674, when its fortifications were destroyed.