Gap, Administrative commune in Hautes-Alpes, France
Gap is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France, sitting in a wide valley between several mountain ranges. The settlement rests at about 750 meters (2460 feet) above sea level and serves as the capital of the department, with public buildings, schools, and a hospital.
The settlement was founded in Roman times as Vappincum and served as a stopping point along a major trade route between Turin and Sisteron. During the Middle Ages, the town grew as an episcopal seat and maintained its role as an administrative center through the centuries.
The name Gap comes from the Latin word Vappincum, a reminder of the town's Roman past. Visitors notice the contrast between the modern prefecture buildings and the narrow streets of the old quarter, where shops and cafés line the sidewalks.
Those exploring the old town will find most shops and street cafés around the cathedral in the center. The streets are easy to walk, and on warm days locals seek shade under the arcades.
Gap is the highest prefecture in France and was awarded Alpine Town of the Year in 2002. At the center stands a 19th-century fountain that recalls earlier times when water was brought down from the mountains into town.
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