field of Charante

Centuries of History
From the tenth to the fifteenth century: a castle-fort
From the Middle Ages a castle with "towers and moat. appears on the heights of Charance. The Viscounts of Gap, seconded by the Counts of Provence, stay there. 12. May 1307 the Bishop of Gap buys the field. The castle is the Castle of the bishops "and will remain, until. Following the French Revolution.
In the sixteenth and seventeenth century: the mischief of History
The castle abandoned is transformed by Bishop Gabriel of Sclaffanatis in "one large house, with outbuildings, farm. In. 1569, during the wars of religion, "reformed" destroy the field, who waited in 1644 that Bishop Arthur Lionne to proceed with its rehabilitation. Dramatic new episode, "the fire of 1692." The Duke of Savoy against Louis XIV let city is burning 'and blood. The area is destroyed again. And tirelessly rebuilding the bishops. This time, Charles Hervé Benigne which is probably the cause of the current domain and perhaps the author of this house which became the Castle Charance "with the first terrace.

Eighteenth century: the revenge of the Enlightenment
Bishop Jacques de Condorcet Marie Caritat decides to make Charance a "recreational residence" ... if the farm buildings retain their own customs, the castle becomes the object of all the embellishments. Particular care is brought to the garden terrace. His successor, Bishop Jean Baptiste Marie de la Tour de Maillé Landry stepped up to the plate and in fact "the Castle laughing that we could find twenty places in the round" and he made his principal residence until 1784 . The Revolution put an end to multi-reign of Bishops on Charance Castle. The area, seized as a national asset, is sold at auction on 26 February 1791.

Nineteenth century: a romantic nature
Rich owners succeed in the castle. For the first time there is a vast landscape ambition. Since the rear of the Castle to the foot of the mountain, Charance garden turns into "English" games of waterfalls, extending the water, boat garage, upgraded walks in the woods.

Wilderness
Against the mountains, protected from winds, the area is a large sunny plateau of 220 ha, ranging between 1000 and 1852 meters.
Here, because of the nature of soil and climate, prosperous one thousand plants, lavender with edelweiss, through orchids, the columbine, Solomon's seal .. a paradise for botanists and explorers in the grass.

Nature tamed
Five gardeners ensure jealously over a thousand old roses, including the beautiful rose Charance, as well as collections of irises and Eglantiers The orchard is a éden: 500 species of trees, 910 pear varieties including the famous "bulb gap "as assessed by François 1er.

public at Home
Place of discovery and promenade, Charance offers visitors many activities: guided tours, botanical walks, walks on the path discovery teaching of "nuthatch" and "squirrel", exhibitions, courses on the size of roses, size of fruit trees and grafting ...
Home Group Classes Seminars Green colloquiums -
Coordinates service activities:
Tel: 04 92 51 21 79 / 04 92 53 01 09
Fax 04 92 51 14 83
E-mail: charance@ville-gap.fr