Gap

Geography

Located on the Road Napoleon which crosses the Col Bayard to the north of the city, Gap is between historical Dauphiné and administrative Provence. It is the principal agglomeration of the the Alps of the South, with 750 meters of altitude, at the edge of the Luye. Gap is in the middle of a rich and preserved nature, in the south of the National park of the Jewel cases and Massif of Dévoluy, in the west of the Lac of Greenhouse-Ponçon and in the north of the Durance.
Its moderate climate is of Mediterranean influence.
Gap is surrounded several winter sports resorts like Orcières-Merlette, Superdévoluy, Chaillol and Ancelle.

History

Roman epoch and the Middle Ages

The first evocation of the place accommodating the town of Gap today, appears in the year 14 before Jesus-Christ with a Roman camp named Vapincum, installed on the “ via cottia per alpem ” connecting the town of Turin in Italy to the valley of the the Rhone. Gapençais then forms part of the territory of the Voconces, Gallic people romanized at the time of the conquest of the Narbonnaise into 125-124 before J. - C., whose capitals are Luc-in-Diois and Vaison-the-Roman. This large city little by little will burst between IIe and IIIe century, and Gap will acquire its autonomy. Like the majority of the towns of Provence, the city is really constituted towards Ve century of our era by the construction of ramparts protecting the inhabitants from the cruel invasions of the Goths, Francs and other tribes benefitting from the fall of the Roman Empire to invade the Gaulle.

XIVe century, the city benefits from the benefit of the installation of the Pape S with Avignon which brings to a more frequent passage travellers to him to develop a Artisanat wools and skins which makes it thrive.

Rebirth and modern era

XVIe and XVIIe centuries are particularly dark periods for the city. The wars of religion are especially fatal in this area and, in 1692, the troops of the Duc of Savoy beating a retreat, set fire to the city. On the 953 houses of the commune, 798 will be destroyed.

Into 1790, following the French revolution, the province of the Dauphiné is divided into three departments: the Drome, the Isere and the Hautes-Alpes whose Gap becomes the Préfecture. Hautes-Alpes then become the most department of France and Gap thus, the most prefecture of the country, which it is always to date.

In 1802, the baron Charles-François de Ladoucette is named prefect of Hautes-Alpes. Under its administration, the town of Gap and the department of Hautes-Alpes will make certain great strides. It will make build roads connecting Gap to Italy and the valley of Drome, and will create the departmental seedbed. Its statue, works of the sculptor gapençais Jean Marcellin will be set up in 1866 on the course which bears its name.

Of return of the Isle of Elba, Napoleon will stop at Gap on March 5th 1815. Recognizing reception of the population of these areas, it will leave with High-Alpine the following message:

“With the Inhabitants of the Departments the High and Low Alps, Citizens,

I was highly touched of all the feelings that you showed me, your wishes are exaucés. The cause of the Nation will still triumph. You are right to call me your Father; I live only for the honor and the happiness of France. My return dissipates all your concerns; it guarantees the conservation of all the properties, the equality between all the classes and the rights which you have enjoyed for twenty-five years, and after which our fathers sighed so much form today part of your existence.

In all the circumstances where I could be, I will always remember with an lively interest all that I saw while crossing your country. ”

Gap will know a new era starting from 1875 with the arrival of the railroad.

Heraldic

Blasonnement of the traditional weapons of the town of Gap:

“Of azure, with a notched gold castle, summoned of four turns of same, covered at a peak. ”
as brought back by Malta-Brown, in illustrated France (1882).

List of the bishops of Gap

Culture and leisures

Sport

The town of Gap is known for its “Raid VTT of the Ways of the sun”, between Saillans and Gap.

Gap is candidate for the Winter Olympics of 2018 - official site

Tourist monuments and places

The departmental Museum shelters the mausoleum of François de Bonne (duke of Lesdiguières, high-alpine constable) carved in black marble of the Champsaur by Jacob Richier.

The made pedestrian center of small passages and pleasant terraces is articulated around the Jean-Marcellin place.

The Field of Charance, space raised of 220 ha, dominates the city. It is the seat of the National nature reserve of the Ecrins.

Characters related to the commune

Jacques Bolognesi, type-setter
Marie-Anne Chazel, actress, member of the Splendid
Guillaume Farel, reformer protestant* Féraud of Nice, bishop of Gap at the beginning of XIe S.
Féraud de Domene, bishop of Gap of XIe S.
Louise Germain, painter.
Gilles Grimandi, footballer.
Jean Joannis, knight who dies as a combatant at the sides of the count Raymond of Saint-Gilles, with the Bataille of Dorylée, on July 1st, 1097.
baron Charles-François de Ladoucette, prefect of Hautes-Alpes under Napoleon i
Honorat Rambaud, Marseilles grammairien, born at Gap.
Jean-Christophe Lafaille, mountaineer
Chantal Lauby, actress, director, actress, member of the Null
Romance Joseph, archivist, historian of the Hautes-Alpes.
Laurence Manfrédi, athlete
Achilles Mauzan, poster artist of cinema Gaumont of the beginning of the 20th century.
Christian Pouget, hockeyor.
Robert Thomas, dramatic author, actor, realizer.
Dominique Villars, botanist.
Henry Brechu, skier.
Jean-Michel Di Falco, évèque of Gap.

Administration

Mayors of Gap

Twinnings

Demography

Economy

The economy is especially tertiary:

Garrison town (4th Regiment of Hunters) and administrative (prefecture, hotel of department);
tourism;
the BTP, sector which developed thanks to the winter sports in particular.

Gap is the seat of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Hautes-Alpes. It manages the Regional center and European of Tourism (CRET) of Briançon, the ADAPEI from Gap and the CEMBREU of Briançon.

Random links: