GAP
Prefecture of Hautes-Alpes (04)
Stage town for the 28th time
Population: 41,300
Famous people: Marie-Anne Chazel, Chantal Lauby (film), Jean-Christophe Lafaille (mountaineer who died in 2006 in the Himalayas), Sébastien Ogier (eight-time World Rally Champion), Stéphane Tempier (mountain biking, two-time winner of the Roc d’Azur), Laurence Manfredi (athletics).
Specialities: Tourton du Champsaur (potato and cream cheese fritter), Oreilles d’âne (fresh pasta and spinach gratin), Ravioles du Champsaur, chèvre salée (goat’s cheese pot-au-feu).
Sport: 17,000 registered members across around 100 sports clubs, including Les Rapaces (ice hockey, Magnus League) and boule lyonnaise. Air sports (paragliding, hang gliding at Gap-Tallard aerodrome, Europe’s 2nd largest skydiving centre). Events: Monte Carlo WRC Rally (January), Chemins du Soleil Gap-Dieulefit Mountain Bike Raid (May), Gapen’cîmes (trail running, October). Cycling clubs: La Pédale Gapençaise, Le Vélo Club Gapençais, the PJPC club ‘Pas de Jambes Pas de Chocolat’, and one mountain biking school bringing together members of the three Gap-based clubs.
Economy: tourism, public administration, banks, hospital. Commercial capital of the Hautes-Alpes and the Southern Alps (2,000 businesses, 20,000 jobs). Agriculture: rearing of Alpine lamb, fruit production, viticulture (a grape variety unique in the world, the Mollard), dairy and cereal production, arboriculture.
Festivals: Nuit du Folk (traditional music and dance) / Rencontres de la Cinémathèque de montagne / European Saxophone University / Tous Dehors, enfin (June, street arts) / Festival Eclat(s) d’été (July–August, free concerts and entertainment).
Labels: Tour de France Cycling Town / 3-flower Town / UNICEF Child-Friendly Town / Town of the Alps / Tourism and Disability and Toutourisme labels (dog-friendly) / 2015 winner of the ‘Positive Energy Territories for Green Growth’ label.
Websites / FB / Twitter / Insta: www.ville-gap.fr / www.gap-tallard-vallees.fr / www.hautes-alpes.fr / www.hautes-alpes.net / www.gap-tallard-durance.fr / facebook.com/officetourisme.gap / facebook.com/hautesalpes.departement / facebook.com/hautes.alpes.tourisme / twitter.com/myhautesalpes / youtube.com/MesAlpes / youtube.com/OTGap / @villedegap / @visitgapofficiel
GAP AND CYCLING
Since the first victory of Belgian "locomotive" Jef Demuysère in 1931, Gap has regularly featured in the Tour de France, often as a launch pad to the summits (Briançon or Alpe d'Huez), but also as a prestigious finish line. Long-distance attackers have enjoyed success here, such as Jean-François Bernard, who made his name here in 1986, and Pierrick Fédrigo twenty years later. In 2011 and 2013, Gap saw rainbow jerseys fly by, as Thor Hushovd and then Rui Costa won there wearing the world champion's jersey. Back in 1933, Georges Speicher was the winner in Gap and world champion. In recent years, Gap has been partial to breakaway riders. In 2015, it was the likeable Spaniard Ruben Plaza who won solo, some thirty seconds ahead of Peter Sagan, who collected second places that year. In 2019, the unstoppable Matteo Trentin, wearing the European champion's jersey, took his third stage victory in the Tour, slightly ahead of the pack, giving the Michelton-Scott team its fourth win in this edition. The city smiled on the Australian team once again in 2020, when Gap served as a springboard for a stage win in Privas by Adam Yates, who took the Yellow Jersey. Finally, in 2024, it was the tireless Victor Campenaerts, the most combative rider in the previous edition, who out-sprinted his breakaway companions, Matteo Vercher and Michal Kwiatkowski, to claim his only stage victory in the Grande Boucle in Barcelonnette.
GAP
Charance Castle and Estate
Construction: 10th to 19th century.
History: around the 10th century, a fortified castle was built on the estate. The Bishop of Gap purchased the estate in 1307. It remained the property of the bishops until the Revolution. In the 16th century, the fortified castle was transformed into a large residence by Bishop Gabriel de Sclaffanatis. It was not until 1644 that Bishop Artus de Lionne restored the estate, which had been ransacked during the Wars of Religion, and transformed it into a vast farming estate. Ruined under Louis XIV, the site was rebuilt by the bishops and, at the beginning of the 18th century, took on the layout we know today. During the Revolution, the château was sold as national property. In the 19th century, the upper part of the estate was converted into an English-style garden. Numerous waterfalls were created, the lake was enlarged, boat garages were built on its banks and paths were laid out in the undergrowth. In 1973, the municipality of Gap became the owner and opened it to the public.
Characteristics: nestled against the mountain overlooking Gap, the Charance estate stretches from 100 m to 1,903 m above sea level, offering exceptional panoramic views. Since 2004, the site has been home to the National Alpine Botanical Conservatory, which studies, protects and promotes Alpine flora to the public. Nature lovers can stroll around the lake, in the English garden and in the terraced garden, which has been awarded the "remarkable garden" label and features many different varieties of plants.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1987.
Gap Cathedral
Construction: 1866 to 1904.
Style: Neo-Gothic.
Architect: Charles Laisné.
Characteristics: the church has a polychrome façade due to the use of different coloured stones. It is inspired by the neighbouring Embrun Cathedral and the Lombard style. The polychromy of the exterior walls comes from various white, grey and pink stones. The bell tower rises to 70 metres, making it the tallest building in the town of Gap.
History: On the initiative of the Bishop of Gap, it was built between 1866 and 1904 in the neo-Gothic style popular at the time, replacing an old medieval cathedral that was falling into ruin.
Trivia: the famous musical group Les Prêtres, originally from the diocese of Gap and Embrun, recorded the video for their album Spiritus Dei in the Gap Cathedral.
Listed as: historic monument since 1906.
Town Hall
Construction: 1743
Style: Classical.
History: The first town hall was built in 1400 on the site of the current Town Hall. The belfry overlooking the building was constructed in 1407. Destroyed by a fire started by the Duke of Savoy's troops in 1692, the building was rebuilt according to plans by the architect Lechat and completed in 1743, as indicated by the inscription in Roman numerals under the balcony. Listed as: the façade and interior staircase of the Town Hall were listed in the supplementary inventory of Historic Monuments in 1948.
Departmental museum
Opening: 1910
Characteristics: it houses collections of archaeology, fine arts, local history and ethnography, earthenware and natural history. In particular, there are remarkable sculptures from the Roman period, jewellery dating from the Bronze Age, a collection of carved furniture from the Queyras region and the mausoleum of the Duke of Lesdiguières.
History: in 1877, Robert Long, archivist of the Hautes-Alpes, created the Gap Archaeological Museum to display the remains of the cathedral. After his death, the collections were brought together in 1881 in the Merlin building, which soon became too small. New premises were needed. Work began in 1903 according to plans drawn up by the departmental architect Chaudier. It opened to the public in September 1910.
Notable feature: the black and white marble mausoleum of François de Bonne de Lesdiguières (1543-1626), which was created during his lifetime by the Lorraine sculptor Jacob Richier (1586-1640). This monument was initially erected in the family castle of Glaizil. During the Revolution, the Hautes-Alpes administration asked the heiress to the mausoleum, Mme de Veynes, to make it available to them. The mausoleum was then placed in Gap Cathedral. When the cathedral was demolished, the mausoleum was transferred to the General Council's meeting room. In 1912, the mausoleum was moved again, this time to the newly created departmental museum.
The Chapel of the Penitents
A place of worship that has become a concert hall renowned for its incredible acoustics, the Chapel of the Penitents has a special atmosphere... between history and modernity.
FOOD
Champsaur tourtons
Once made for celebrations, tourton is a delicious speciality of the Champsaur, taking the form of a thin pastry parcel filled with mashed potatoes, fresh tomme cheese and onions. Once fried, tourtons are best enjoyed with a green salad or a meat dish.
