Around Domaine Napoléon
Écrins National Park
A spectacular high-mountain wilderness
Carpets of colourful wildflowers, emblematic alpine wildlife, dramatic peaks and deep valleys… Écrins National Park is a place where people and nature meet in their purest form.
Created in 1973, Écrins National Park is one of France’s national parks. Its protected core area is accessible only on foot, making it a paradise for hikers and lovers of untouched mountain landscapes.
Many day hikes allow visitors to discover mountain villages, alpine pastures, lakes, waterfalls and many other natural treasures.
For experienced hikers, the park is also home to legendary long-distance routes such as the Tour du Vieux Chaillol, the GR54 and its variants, as well as part of the Via Alpina.
Located between the Northern and Southern Alps, the Écrins massif is one of the largest and highest in the Alps. Its highest summit, the Barre des Écrins, reaches 4,102 m, with more than 150 peaks between 3,000 m and 4,000 m.
Shaped by glaciers and high-altitude landscapes, the park is home to exceptional biodiversity: golden eagles, chamois, ibex, many bird species, and around 1,800 species of flowers and plants.
In Écrins National Park, every trail tells the story of a true high-mountain culture, found across the great alpine valleys of the Hautes-Alpes: Champsaur & Valgaudemar, Serre-Ponçon, Briançonnais and Pays des Écrins.
Contact :
Tel : 04 92 40 20 10
Courriel : info@ecrins-parcnational.fr
www.ecrins-parcnational.fr
Domaine de Charance
Nature, gardens and panoramic views over Gap
Located just 4 km from Gap town centre, Charance Estate is an exceptional natural site, perfect for walkers, outdoor enthusiasts and families. At Charance, there is something for every kind of nature lover.
Set at an altitude of 1,000 metres, the estate is also home to the headquarters of Écrins National Park.
Backed by the Charance mountain, the château enjoys a sheltered and peaceful setting.
The gardens of Charance are officially listed as a “Remarkable Garden” and offer breathtaking views from their landscaped terraces. You can also discover a beautiful collection of old roses.
The estate offers many pleasant shaded trails, leading you through forests, around the lake and along small streams.
Overlooking the Gap basin and the Durance valley, Charance is a unique place in the Southern Alps to discover, enjoy and admire nature.
For a more adventurous outing, head up to the Pic de Charance, which rises above Gap at 1,852 metres.
Follow the “Squirrel Trail”, a fun discovery route leading to the Rochasson viewpoint — one of the most beautiful panoramas over Gap. Along the way, look out for the giant snail, the perched owl and other playful surprises.
You can then continue towards the summit, where you’ll be rewarded with an exceptional panorama. Just above the Brèche, a natural gateway to the ridges, the orientation table offers wide-open views over the Gap area, the Dévoluy and the Champsaur valley.
From the campsite, we can provide walking, cycling and shuttle routes to help you discover this magical place. A free shuttle is also available in July and August.
VAPINCUM*
Discover the historic centre of Gap
Gap’s origins date back to the Gallo-Roman period, when the town was known as Vapincum. Today, the layout of the town centre still roughly reflects the shape of the medieval city.
The Cathedral
Dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, Gap Cathedral was listed as a Historic Monument on 9 August 1906.
It was built between 1867 and 1905, based on plans by architect Charles Laisné, who successfully combined the Romanesque-Provençal and Gothic styles of the earlier buildings. The cathedral was consecrated in 1895.
Some of the houses located behind the cathedral, around Place aux Herbes and Place Gavotte, are among the oldest in the town centre.
The Town Hall
The first communal building was constructed in 1400 on the current site of the Town Hall. The belfry overlooking the building dates back to 1407.
Destroyed by a fire caused by the troops of the Duke of Savoy in 1692, the building was later rebuilt according to the plans of architect Lechat and completed in 1743, as shown by the Roman numerals inscribed beneath the balcony.
The façade and interior staircase of the Town Hall were added to the supplementary inventory of Historic Monuments on 29 November 1948.
The Hautes-Alpes Craft Ecomuseum
This ecomuseum explores the agricultural, economic and human history of the Hautes-Alpes from 1790 to 1950.
Guided educational visits are available, with two themes chosen for each tour. Topics include agricultural tools used by people and animals from 1790 to 1950 in the Hautes-Alpes, a working clog-maker’s workshop, the craft of wheelwrighting, mechanical energy in the region from 1860 to 1940, the forge with power hammer and cutlery-making, and a sawmill demonstration.
The Departmental Museum
Free to visit, the Musée Muséum départemental des Hautes-Alpes invites visitors on a timeless journey through art history, from prehistory to the present day.
It is a place to awaken emotions and curiosity, to take a quiet pause and immerse yourself in a world where eras, creations, permanent and temporary collections, and the heritage of the Hautes-Alpes and beyond all come together.
A little history
What about Napoleon?
In 1815, the deposed emperor Napoleon Bonaparte decided to leave the island of Elba after 9 months in exile, with one goal in mind: to regain power in France.
His return was marked by several key stages, beginning in Golfe-Juan on 1 March 1815. From there, he began his long march to Paris, including a rather eventful stop in Gap on 5 and 6 March.
According to local history, an unusual incident took place at the Auberge Marchand on the morning of 6 March 1815. An explosion was reportedly heard coming from the Emperor’s room. Alarmed, the local population feared that Napoleon had been assassinated, while soldiers rushed towards the scene.
Those who arrived first are said to have found Napoleon standing in thick smoke, holding a pistol. He had apparently tried to light a fire in the fireplace and, in order to clear the blocked chimney, fired his weapon into the flue — causing the explosion. When he realised the panic this had caused, Napoleon is said to have appeared at the window to reassure the people of Gap.
And just 10 km from Gap, you can walk beneath the famous “Napoleon’s Hat”, a distinctive natural landmark offering exceptional views over the Gap area and the Avance plain.
Also worth discovering at the Musée Muséum départemental des Hautes-Alpes: the standard of the Chasseurs of the Guard, given by Napoleon I during his visit to Gap.
The Route Napoléon
A legendary historic journey
After being forced to abdicate on 6 April 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to the island of Elba. From that moment on, he had one clear ambition: to escape and overthrow the monarchy of Louis XVIII.
On 26 February 1815, Napoleon left Elba and landed in Golfe-Juan on 1 March, accompanied by around two to three thousand men.
To avoid the royalist troops stationed in Lower Provence, he chose to head towards Grenoble through the inland mountain routes.
He passed through Castellane and Digne-les-Bains on 3 and 4 March 1815, then continued north with his men, reaching Paris on 20 March 1815.
This historic journey later became the famous Route Napoléon, an itinerary running from Cannes to Grenoble via Gap.