Gapençais
A vital territory
A natural crossroads, the Gapençais region combines the mildness of a southern climate with the intensity of a territory full of character. Around Gap, prefecture of the Hautes-Alpes region, weave landscapes of orchards and vineyards, limestone peaks sculpted by the wind, and a heritage that blends history, culture and forward momentum.
Between orchards and vineyards
Gap
Prefecture town
In Gap, the dynamic city and capital of the Alps, daily life opens up to multiple horizons: a lively town center with its emblematic Desmichels pyramid, walks in the Charance domain and its national alpine botanical conservatory, golf and Nordic skiing in the Gap-Bayard domain, and, all around, the gentle orchards and vineyards along the Durance river that create a gourmet landscape.
Place Jean Marcellin in the heart of Gap on a summer’s evening!
On the road
of great stories
The Route Napoléon crosses the region like a narrative thread, recalling the Emperor’s visit in 1815. Further south, the Château de Tallard watches over the valley, witness to the medieval struggles and exchanges that shaped this strategic crossroads between Dauphiné and Provence.
Château de Tallard is an ancient fortified castle dating back to the 10th century.
Tallard
Un ciel pour passion
AtTallard aerodrome, Europe’s leading center for aerial leisure activities, an incessant ballet of wings and sails hovers: parachuting, gliding, hot-air ballooning… The Gapençais region cultivates a true aeronautical excellence, open to amateurs and seasoned pilots alike. A place of freedom where the sky becomes a playground of exception.
Nature
and culture
In the Gapençais region, culture and nature meet like two mirrors. At the Théâtre de la Passerelle, words and gestures lift the soul above the mundane. A few kilometers away, the cliffs of Céüze impose their vertical law. Climbers suspend themselves in the raw silence of the limestone. Here, man oscillates between two vertigoes: that of the stage, where worlds are invented, and that of the mountain, where reality is confronted with bare hands. Further north, the sanctuary of Notre-Dame du Laus invites you to meditate, combining fervor, history and soothing landscapes: a timeless stopover at the heart of a region that knows how to unite stone and soul.
The mission of the Cinémathèque de Montagne is to collect, preserve and distribute all professional and amateur films shot in mountain areas since the invention of cinema.
Gapençais highlights
GapMountainfilm library meetings
Four days of screenings, meetings and debates to explore mountaineering and mountain adventure through films from all over the world.
GapRallyeMonte Carlo
After their stints on the region’s winding roads, the drivers and their teams meet up at the service park set up every year in Gap. It’s an opportunity to meet the teams and see what goes on behind the scenes.
Gap-Bayard
Gap-Bayard au féminin
For a weekend, the Bayard estate is transformed into a friendly sports playground dedicated to women.
The stations
From the charm of the villages to the energy of the major ski areas, the Hautes-Alpes offers a wide choice of resorts to experience the mountains at your own pace. Downhill skiing, Nordic activities, hiking or summer adventures: there’s something for everyone, in the heart of unspoilt landscapes.
Gap-Bayard plateau cross-country ski trail
Golf in summer, cross-country skiing in winterGap-Bayard ski area
In the silent setting of Gap Bayard, the golf course unfolds like a high-altitude fairway, where every shot is accompanied by the pure breath of the Hautes-Alpes. In winter, the plateau is transformed into a Nordic kingdom, offering cross-country skiers an immaculate terrain where gliding becomes almost a gesture of contemplation.
The Gapençais
in figures
| AREA | 83% of the department’s 5,549 km² are covered by forests and mountainous areas. | 351.4 KM² OF LAND |
| RESIDENTS | One of France’s most sparsely populated departments, the Hautes-Alpes has a population of 142,000. | 50 743 |
| TOURIST BEDS | There are 410,000 tourist beds throughout France. They generate 22 million overnight stays a year. | 23 000 |
Source: INSEE
Need advice?
The tourist office,
your local ally
Good deals, ideas for activities, personalized advice: don’t hesitate to come and meet or contact the Tourist Office teams to make the most of your destination.
Terres de Gap
1 Pl. Jean Marcellin, 05000 Gap
