Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Domaine de Charance, backed by the mountain of the same name, overlooks Gap of which it is the property. This 220-hectare alpine site, located between 1,000 and 1,852 metres above sea level, is dedicated to preserving the environment. It houses the Château de Charance, a former residence of the bishops of Gap, a terraced garden classified as "Remarkable Garden", as well as a park decorated with water parts. The estate also hosts the headquarters of the Écrins National Park and the National Alpine Botanical Conservatory of Gap-Charance, making it a major centre for the protection of alpine flora and a popular area for the inhabitants of the region.

The history of the estate dates back to the tenth century, when the Viscounts of Gap, vassals of the Counts of Provence, erected a strong castle with towers and ditches. In 1307, the bishop of Gap acquired the estate, which remained under his control until the French Revolution. In the 16th century, the castle, then abandoned, was renovated by Bishop Gabriel de Sclaffanatis, but was destroyed in 1569 by Protestants during the wars of religion. Reconstructed by Bishop Arthur de Lionne in 1644, it was again destroyed in 1692 by the Duke of Savoy in a conflict with Louis XIV. At the beginning of the 18th century, the bishops Jacques Marie Caritat de Condorcet and Jean Baptiste Marie de Maillé de la Tour Landry transformed the castle into a luxurious residence and turned the gardens into terraces.

At the Revolution, the castle was confiscated as a national property and sold at auction in 1791. In the 19th century, several owners succeeded each other and built the upstream part of the estate into an English garden, creating waterfalls, expanding the lake and plotting undergrowth routes. In 1973 the commune of Gap became the owner of the estate and opened to the public. Since 1987, the site has been included in the additional inventory of historical monuments, protecting its facades, gardens, park and industrial remains such as mills and sawmills. Today, the estate combines historical heritage, environmental education and nature recreation.

The Charance Castle houses the administrative services of the Écrins National Park and an environmental documentation centre. The former stables welcome the National Alpine Botanical Conservatory, dedicated to the preservation of endangered wild plants, as well as an agricultural eco-museum depicting the rural activities of the Hautes-Alpes from 1790 to 1950. The terraced garden, extending over 9,000 m2, has been classified since 1987 and labeled "Remarkable Garden" in 2005. It has rich biodiversity, with ancient roses, traditional fruit trees and alpine plants, all irrigated by a network of canals and fountains.

The estate also includes English gardened woods, covered by the Gap Canal, as well as the Pic de Charance (1,825 m), offering a 360° panorama of the region. This site, classified in Natura 2000, offers activities such as hiking, mountain biking or "vertical kilometer", a sporting competition. Its name, of origin debated, could come from the celte rin (water course) or from the franco-provençal challanche (ravin). Since its acquisition by the city, the Domaine de Charance is an emblematic place combining heritage, science and sustainable tourism.

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