Château de Charance, Historic villa and botanical garden in Gap, France.

The Château de Charance stands on a 220-hectare estate 4 km northwest of Gap, between 1,000 and 1,903 m altitude. Its terraced garden covers 9,000 m², with box, holly, grasses and daphne grouped by terrace and watered by canals, cascades and fountains. The château now houses the Écrins National Park administration; the former stables hold the Alpine National Botanical Conservatory.

A fortified castle with towers and ditches stood here by the 10th century, held by the viscounts of Gap under the counts of Provence. The bishop of Gap bought the estate on 12 May 1307, and it stayed in episcopal hands until the French Revolution. Gabriel de Sclaffanatis turned the abandoned castle into a large dwelling in the 16th century; Protestants sacked it in 1569, Arthur de Lionne restored it in 1644, and the duke of Savoy destroyed it in 1692. Bishops rebuilt it, and in 1791 it was sold at auction as a national asset.

The four garden levels showcase regional plant diversity through collections of holly, boxwood, daphne, and heritage roses that grow across the terraces.

The property is open from mid-April through October with free bus service connecting to Gap city center. Visitors should expect varied terrain and pathways at different elevations, allowing time to explore multiple areas and dressing appropriately for mountain weather conditions.

The grounds house a conservation center protecting around 1000 wild plant species and hundreds of heritage apple and pear varieties from traditional cultivation. This collection preserves fruit varieties that have grown in the region for generations and might otherwise disappear.