Editing Gap (section)

====<FONT COLOR="#0033CC">'''Gap History '''</FONT>====
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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. 
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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.