Montbenoît (French pronunciation: [mɔ̃bənwa]) is a former commune in the Doubs department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France.

[2] The commune lies 14 km (8.7 mi) north of Pontarlier in the Jura mountains.

In the early 12th century, Landry, Lord of Joux, gave land in the upper Doubs valley to Humbert, Archbishop of Besançon, to found an abbey.

Both the abbey and the town were named Montbenoît after the local summit.

[6] In 1947, Montbenoît was proclaimed capital of the Republic of Saugeais by Georges Pourchet, a local hotel owner, who also created the republic on the spot.