Gap (Hautes Alpes) Information - Holidays in France, Gites de France, Villas in France

Gap

Gap (Hautes Alpes) mini guide

Guide point	Details
Department:	South of France and the Riviera > Provence - Cote d'Azur > Hautes-Alpes >
Location:	Gap is in the Hautes-Alpes department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in South of France.
Public Transport:	By Road From Calais all the way on the motorway via Reims, Dijon, Bourg-en-Bresse and Lyon to Grenoble. Then the A51 and N75 to Aspres-sur-Beuch and the D994 east to Gap. By Train The Hautes-Alpes are easily reached by train from either the south (Marseille), the north (Grenoble) or the west (Valence). Valence and Grenoble have high-speed train connections with Paris. There are up to four train connections daily in all directions. By Air There are no international airports in the Hautes-Alpes, the nearest is Grenoble 107km away or Marseille 182km away.
Tourist information website:	http://www.gap-tourisme.fr
Tourist information contact email:	info@gap-tourisme.fr
Tourist information switch board number:	+ 33 (0)4 92 52 56 56
Tourist information address:	2a, Cours Frédéric Mistral, 05002, Gap, France
Quick links to accommodation:	Holiday rentals near Gap (Hautes Alpes) - Hotels in Gap (Hautes Alpes) Show all rentals in Hautes-Alpes - Self catering in Hautes-Alpes - Bed and Breakfast in Hautes-Alpes properties with pools in Hautes-Alpes - Apartment (1) - Farmhouse (1) -

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.