Gap (Hautes Alpes)

Gap

Gap (Hautes Alpes) mini guide

Originally founded by the Gauls, the Roman emperor Augustus seized the town in 14 BC and renamed it Vapincum. Gap was annexed by the French crown in 1512. In the 1558 the Lombards sacked the town. In 1650 plague removed two-thirds of the population, and in 1692 Savoy troops burned down almost all the houses. In March 1815 Napoleon arrived on his way back from Elba and passed through Gap on his march to Paris.

Gap is not full of museums, galleries or fancy shops, however it is one of the sunniest places in France and is sandwiched between some wonderfully contrasting countryside. Many interesting places are to be found just outside the town in these surrounding regions. The Domaine de Charance is a country park with meadows, forest paths and a lake that overlooks Gap – it houses the National Botanical Conservatory, which has an impressive collection of rare plants (1500 varieties of rose, 550 varieties of apple tree & 800 varieties of pear tree!) it is well worth visiting.

Walks in the mountains are also popular, with Les balcons du Gapençais (Balconies of Gap) being a favourite. It is a 45km circuit around Gap - designed for hikers and mountain bikers.

There are two markets a week, which are a great way to mix with the locals and the Musée Départemental on Avenue Maréchal Foch has some interesting archaeological collections from the bronze and iron ages on display.