Gap
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File:Gap Place Jean Marcellin.jpg
GAP - Capital of the Southern Alps - FRANCE
Gap is located in the heart of the southern Alps, on the Napoleon road between Provence and Dauphiné, close to the Italian border which is only 100 km to the east.
With its 38 200 inhabitants and 300 sunny days per year, Gap is the real economic lung of the Hautes Alpes area and is a really pleasant place to live in.
This city is the main one of the Southern French Alps and the highest French prefecture (750 m), the city is surrounded by a rich and preserved nature, accessible mountain tops and many ski resorts.
Luckily, there are no industries in the surroundings which allows you to find really close to the city center, preserved and quiet places and also a wonderfully diverse mountain flora and wild fauna.
More than a city to visit, you’ll need to explore the Hautes Alpes area if you’re planning to come around ! ! ! The département is a paradise for hikers, climbers, cyclists, skiers, alpinists or any kind of nature lover.
Marseille is 180 km south, Grenoble 105 km north and Torino 200 km east .
In November 2010, there are approximately 65 CSers in Gap and 130 in the whole Hautes Alpes area.
You’ll find through this page the main information about the city, the area and its history, the cultural and night life but also about our local CS activities happening around.
If one day you get to Gap or Hautes Alpes, this page will help you to know the place better than anyone !
CS ACTIVITIES IN GAP
Meetings
The Gap CS community is not yet very active but we are trying to work in that way and to improve it.
All self initiatives are of course more than welcome so do not hesitate to organise a meeting or to post informations through the local group !
The monthly CS meeting is scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month
If you want to have further information about the local CS activity, you can check one of the local groups :
« Grand Briançonnais et Queyras »
Mailing list
If you want to be informed by email about the local events or manifestations, you must be registred in one of the local group above.
How to find a couch in Gap or surrounding area ?
The number of active couchsurfers in Gap is increasing. It should be easy for you to find a couch.
There are many Couch Surfers in Gap ready to host someone, and even to help you discover the area ! Just drop them a line directly or using the group, you’ll certainly receive several positive answers.
Otherwise it could be a good idea to ask CSers in the surrounding villages. A lot of users are actually living in towns which are close from the main city and it might be interesting for you to surf in the country side ! ! !
Couchsurfers willing to host or help you in Gap and Hautes Alpes
Here is a list of members who are willing to meet, host or show you their city/area if they have time :
Loic Drion Gap active member - 12 km from the center
Guillaume Dejy Local group moderator, event organizer, his couch is located at Guillestre (Queyras Regional Park), 60 km north
Thomas Brisson Gap city ambassador, local group moderator, event organizer - 15 km from the center
Philippe Rolland Gap active member, event organiser - Close to the center
Beno Paillet Gap active member - Close to the center
It is only a small list of members in a city/area where many Couchsurfers are active.
As anybody is able to organise a CS meeting, everybody is welcome to do it , especially if it is to suggest a great idea ! So if you have an idea, create your own meeting by clicking here and make an announce for this one on the CS Group of Gap !
TRANSPORT
How to get to Gap or its area ?
By train
There are several trains arriving daily at the Gap train station from different places.
It takes around 2h30 from Grenoble – 3h00 from Marseille and 2h30 from Valence to reach the city by train.
By Bus
The main Bus company is the SCAL (Société Cars Alpes Littoral). Buses of this company can arrive from Nice, Marseille, Aix en Provence or Marseille.
By car
If you’re arriving from the south, take the A51 Highway which ends 15 km before Gap. You can also take the "Route Napoleon (road n° 85 passing by Sisteron) which is free.
If you’re arriving from the north be very carefull when leaving Grenoble. Please dont follow the « GAP » road sign because you’ll have to cross and drive through a crazy mountain road… Follow instead « Sisteron – Côte d’Azur » direction (National road number 75), it will be really easier for you even if there is a pass to cross.
If you are arriving from the east and Italy, you’ll have to cross the Montgenèvre pass (Oulx), and then to pass Briançon, following the national road number 94.
By Plane
Closest airports are Marseille or Grenoble. You must take a bus or a train from one of these place in order to reach Gap.
Here is a
Map of the Area
Notice that if you are arriving from Italy, you dont have to pass by Nice. Just find a bus or a ride from Torino or Oulx to cross the Col de Montgenèvre to Briançon, it will be easier for you. Nice is actually really far from Gap even if it is also in the South East of France ! ! !
How to circulate in the city or around ?
There are 9 FREE bus lines in Gap which allow you reach all the main places and neigborhoods of the city.
If you want to have a ride around, FREE bikes, maps and documentation are available in the tourism office.
The pedestrian city center is really pleasant and you can reach all the main places on foot.
THE CS TRAVEL GUIDE
Gap History
Originally founded by the Gauls, the Roman emperor Augustus seized the town in 14 BC and renamed it Vapincum. It was originally a defensive place located on the « via cottia per alpem », who was a Roman road connecting Torino to the Rhône Valley.
As with most of the cities of Provence, fortifications were built around Gap during the Vth century. The aim of these fortifications was to protect the city from the barbarians who were at this time, invading the Roman Empire.
During the XIVth century, the city took advantage of the Pope's installation in Avignon. More travellers began to cross the Italian border and the Gap valley to join the Compostelle path, so they use to stop in the city. Thanks to its strategical location, Gap was a crossing road and as a consequence, wool and skin handicraft was developed at this time. 4 big annual fairs used to happen in Gap during this period
The city was annexed by the French crown in 1512 and then, the following two centuries were particularly dark periods. The religion wars were really bloody in this area and in 1692, The Duc de Savoie troupes invaded the city, abandoned beforehand by its inhabitants. Gap was looted and burned and 798 houses of the city were destroyed during the invasion (there were only 953 housses at this time…)
Thanks to Colbert and the Ladoucette Baron the city was developed during the XIX century. During this period, the main roads were built, joining Marseille and Grenoble which favorised external and commercial exchanges.
Napoleon I left Elba in February of 1815 and had reached Gap on March 15 with 40 horsemen and 10 grenadiers where he had thousands of copies of his Proclamations printed. The whole population of the city accompanied Napoleon when he left Gap and this is maybe the most important event that happened in the city…. !
The arrival of the train in 1875 marked the entry of Gap into the modern area and during the XX century, the city became the most important one in the southern Alps.
Nowadays, due to the excellent geographical situation and well preserved natural areas, Gap proposes a high quality touristic offer. Despite the lack of industry, Gap is the economic lung of the Southern Alps and it and the surrounding area are visited by thousand tourists throughout the year.
What to visit in the city ?
Gap is a really lovely and quiet town where you can find all the conveniences you need. It’s really nice to have a walk around its pedestrian center or to have a coffee in one of the bars of the Jean Marcellin’s square.
- The national botanical alpine conservatory with its castle, lake and 220 hectares of preserved nature… (reachable from the center with a free bus)
- The Neogothique Cathédral built between 1866 and 1904
- The Departmental museum
- Many hiking itineraries in the surrounding mountains.
What to visit in the area ?
The Hautes Alpes department is a rich and preserved mountain area where you can find absolutely awesome places to hike or practise any kind of outdoor activity. There are plenty of campgrounds in the little villages around so you’ll always find a place to stay if none of the Gap CSers are able to offer you a couch to stay.
- The Serre Ponçon lake and its dam
It is the biggest artificial water reserve in Europe. You can kite surf, sail or swim there during the summer.
- The Ecrin national park It’s a high mountain natural reserve who's aim is to dynamically conserve the natural and mineral biodiversity and to create and fix a durable development working with the 61 municipalities belonging to the park. In the park you can find plenty of hiking paths, 17 hectares of Glaciers, 100 summits higher than 3000 meters and a lot of mountain refuges if you want to hike during several days. The highest top is « La barre des Ecrins » culminating at 4102 meters
- The Queyras natural regional park
The goal of this 650 km2 protected area is to develop the valley's economy, working at the same time with a total respect for the ecology and mountain traditions. There are many hiking paths, outdoor activities to practise and a lot of mountain villages to visit. The most known and awesome one is St Véran, the highest European municipality (2040 meters high)
- UNSESCO classified Vauban’s fortifications
Mont Dauphin with its awesome fortifications on a rock, around 70 km away from Gap.
Briançon, is an alpine town with a famous skiing resort (Serre Chevalier) and massive Vauban fortifications.
- Climbing Spots
The Ceuse cliff is known worldwide for its 9a+ « Biographie » lane (one of the most difficult in the world) equiped in the 90’s by the famous alpinist Jean Christophe Lafaille.
Ceuse is known as one of the best French spots where hundreds of climbers come each year from all around the world to struggle with its exceptional rock…
Many other little cliffs or climbing spots are scaterred all around the departement. Plenty of them are equiped for beginners and easily approachable for children as well. (Savournon, La Roche des Arnauds, Sigottier, St Crépin, Les Vigneaux, Aile froide, L’argentière, Clarée, Ventavon, Dévoluy, Champsaur….)
TIPS
Internet Connection : There's a free wifi access, "Place Jean Marcellin", right in the city center.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
- Police Station :
Tel : 04.92.52.50.99
Adress : Cité Administrative Desmichels - 05000 GAP
- Health Urgency :
SAMU (French Health Urgency Service): Tel: 15
European Tel number for Urgency: 112
Urgency number for the homeless: 115
- Hospital :
Tel : 04.92.40.61.61
- Fireman Station:
Urgency number : 18
- Emergency Doctor :
Medical housse : 04 92 52 28 15
MEDIA MENTIONS
Sorry but we dont have yet any article about the couchsurfing activity in Gap or its area...