Gap |
| Friday, 13 February 2009 00:00 |
 Surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, under ever-shining sun in the middle of a beautiful green valley is Gap, the capital of the Hautes-Alpes Department. Hautes-Alpes, translated high Alps, was so named because the highest mountains of France are found here and the region has become a paradise for alpine sports. Winter sports take place here all year round and in the summertime the hikers and mountain climbers also appreciate the mountains around Gap. Even bikers know this part of the Alps and understand all that it has to offer and Gap is often the starting or stopping point for the Tour de France race. Those that have a rental car from Gap can expect wonderful drives with beautiful panoramic views of mountains, forests and valleys. Gap is a Roman creation (Vapincum), and in the old town you can still partly see some of the antique buildings. On top of that many beautiful medieval buildings still make up a large part of the city looks. The "Rue du Colonel Roux" is definitely worth seeing and it is also the oldest street in the city, as well as the "Rue Jean Eymar" and the "Place Jean Marcellin" with many fountains, statues and wonderful decorations. The proximity to Italy is clear by the architecture and you will also find many pretty pastel colored paintings on the houses. This is just the right atmosphere for sitting down in a quaint street café and to let the mood have an effect on you. If you get hungry then you can expect great service in one of the small restaurants. A specialty of the city is a delicious cheese known as "Le Gapençais". After a good meal you should go and stretch your legs by taking a walk. Perfect for this is the national park that is located on the outskirts of the city with its forests flooded in light and the many animals. In the Château de Charance it is more artistic and its beautiful parks are designed in English and Italian styles. If you want to learn more about the region around Gap while you are in the national park, then you should visit the local museum. The many documents on the geology of the Alps, as well as local flora and fauna are all very informative. Tranquility, on the other hand, can be expected by visitors that go to the Cathedral of Gap. This neo-Gothic masterpiece has been protected by historical building and monument laws for more than a hundred years already. Of course you should also grab your rental car from Gap and explore the surrounding areas. Grenoble, for example, is only around 60 miles away and is easy to reach if you take the highway. Grenoble is a university city with a lively, varied nightlife if that is what you are looking for after spending so much time outdoors. Also to the north of Grenoble you will find the Savoie region, which is one of the most interesting to see in all of France. Here too you will find a beautiful Alpine scenery, but one that is speckled by numerous historical buildings. Especially baroque and rococo churches, palaces and fountains are to be found in the small, picturesque villages and small cities. The area is suitable for touring in a rental car from Gap. South of Gap you are quickly in the beautiful Provence region if you drive with your rental car from Gap down the highway E712. Here you will find Marseille, for example, which is a city with modern culture and where you can also enjoy a delicious bouillabaisse. There is also Aix-en-Provence with its important fountains, churches and coffee houses. Further to the west you will come across the beautiful Avignon, where the pope used to reside and of course you are also quickly on the Mediterranean Sea. There you can jump in and enjoy the refreshing blue waters. After a while you will once again yearn for the mountains and the rental car will take you quickly back to Gap where you can enjoy the sun up at great altitudes. |
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