GAP, the capital of an arrondissement in the French depart ment of Hautes Alpes, 122 m. by rail from Marseilles. Pop. 7,728. It is the Vapincum of the Romans founded by Augustus about 14 B.C. In 1232 most of the region passed from Provence by marriage to the dauphins of Vienhois. The town itself, however, remained under the rule of the bishops until 1512, when it was annexed to the crown of France. The town was sacked by the Huguenots in 1567 and and by the duke of Savoy in 1692. It was the birthplace of the reformer Guillaume Farel (1489-1565), who first preached his doctrines there about 1561-62.
Gap is built at a height of 2,418 ft. on the right bank of the Luye (an affluent of the Durance). The 17th century cathedral has been entirely reconstructed (1866-1905). The prefecture con tains scientific and archaeological collections, as well as the ar chives, which include many mss. from the monastery of Durbon, etc. The episcopal see of Gap, now in the ecclesiastical province of Aix-en-Provence, is first mentioned in the 6th century, and in 1791 was enlarged by the annexation of that of Embrun.