# La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar > commune in Hautes-Alpes, France **Wikidata**: [Q303151](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q303151) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/la-chapelle-en-valgaud-mar ## Summary La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar is a commune located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France, situated within the Valgaudemar valley near the Écrins National Park. As a commune of France—a territorial subdivision for municipalities established in 1789—it serves as a local administrative unit in the southeastern French Alps region. ## Key Facts - **Location**: Southeastern France, in the Hautes-Alpes department - **Coordinates**: Latitude 44.816944444444, Longitude 6.1947222222222 - **Administrative Hierarchy**: Part of the arrondissement of Gap - **Protected Area Context**: Located within the Valgaudemar protected area - **National Park Proximity**: Near Écrins National Park (established March 27, 1973) - **Department**: Hautes-Alpes, named after the Alps mountain range (established March 4, 1790) - **Country**: France (Western European country with overseas territories) - **Commune Status**: Established as a commune of France in 1789 - **Alias**: La Chapela-en-Gaudemar - **Wikipedia Title**: La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar - **Sitelink Count**: 41 - **Population Range**: Historical populations recorded between 101 and 204 residents across various census years ## FAQs **What type of administrative region is La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar?** La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. It is part of the Hautes-Alpes department in the southeastern region of France, specifically within the arrondissement of Gap. **What geographical features surround La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar?** The commune is situated in the Valgaudemar valley, a protected area in France, and is located near the Écrins National Park—one of France's ten national parks, established in 1973. The region is characterized by its Alpine mountain landscape in the southern French Alps. **What is the relationship between La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar and the French administrative system?** As a French commune established in 1789 during the French Revolution, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar operates as a local administrative division within the department of Hautes-Alpes, which itself was created in 1790. The commune falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Gap. **How is La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar connected to national parks and protected areas?** The commune is geographically associated with the Valgaudemar protected area and is in proximity to Écrins National Park, which was officially established on March 27, 1973. This national park covers significant Alpine territory in the region. ## Why It Matters La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar represents a small but significant component of France's Alpine territorial structure. As part of the Valgaudemar valley—a protected area—it contributes to France's network of natural preservation zones that safeguard Alpine ecosystems. The commune's location near Écrins National Park places it within one of France's premier conservation areas, which protects biodiversity and maintains natural landscapes for scientific, educational, and recreational purposes. The commune exemplifies the French administrative system's organization of rural mountain communities, dating back to the revolutionary period of 1789 when communes were established as the fundamental territorial units of France. Its position in the Hautes-Alpes department, created in 1790, reflects the systematic reorganization of French territory following the Revolution. For those interested in French geography, Alpine communities, or environmental conservation, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar serves as an example of how small rural communes integrate with broader regional conservation efforts and administrative structures in mountainous France. ## Notable For - **Alpine Location**: Situated in the Valgaudemar valley within the French Alps - **Protected Area Integration**: Part of the Valgaudemar protected area and proximity to Écrins National Park - **Historical Administrative Status**: Established as a French commune in 1789, making it part of France's foundational municipal structure - **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Hautes-Alpes, a department created in 1790 and named directly after the Alps mountain range ## Body ### Geography and Location La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar is positioned in southeastern France within the Alpine region. The commune's precise coordinates are latitude 44.816944444444 and longitude 6.1947222222222, placing it in the heart of the southern French Alps. The settlement is located within the Valgaudemar valley, a protected area in France that encompasses Alpine landscapes and ecosystems. The commune falls within the Hautes-Alpes department, which was officially established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. The department's name directly references the Alps mountain range, reflecting its geographical position in this major European mountain system. Administratively, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar is part of the arrondissement of Gap, which serves as the administrative center for this portion of the department. ### Administrative Structure La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar operates as a commune of France, which represents the lowest level of territorial organization in the French administrative system. The commune as an administrative unit was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous parochial and feudal divisions. This makes La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar part of a system that forms the backbone of French local government, with communes existing throughout France metropolitan and overseas territories. The commune is situated within the department of Hautes-Alpes, one of the eight departments comprising the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The department's capital is Gap, and La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar is administratively linked to this urban center through the arrondissement system. ### Conservation and Natural Heritage The commune benefits from its association with protected natural areas. The Valgaudemar region in which it is located is designated as a protected area in France, contributing to the preservation of Alpine flora and fauna. Additionally, the commune is in proximity to Écrins National Park, one of France's ten national parks. Écrins National Park was established on March 27, 1973 (with an effective date of January 1, 1973), and encompasses a significant area of Alpine terrain including glaciers, mountain peaks, and diverse ecosystems. The park is recognized for its natural value and serves as a protected habitat for numerous species of wildlife. The presence of this national park near La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar underscores the commune's position in a region of significant environmental importance. ### Historical Context The establishment of La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar as a commune links it to the revolutionary transformation of French administrative structures in 1789. This period marked the end of the old feudal system and the creation of a new territorial organization based on rational, uniform principles. The commune system established then remains largely intact today, with over 35,000 communes throughout France. The Hautes-Alpes department's creation in 1790 further solidified the administrative framework for this Alpine region. The department has maintained its territorial integrity since that time, adapting only to minor boundary adjustments over more than two centuries. ### Population and Community Historical population data indicates that La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar has maintained a small but stable community, with population figures recorded between 101 and 204 residents across various census periods. This population size is typical for rural Alpine communes, where settlements are often modest in scale due to the mountainous terrain and limited agricultural capacity. The commune's small population reflects the broader pattern of rural communities in the French Alps, where settlements are distributed across mountain valleys and often consist of traditional villages that have maintained their character over generations. ### Regional Context La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar is part of a distinctive Alpine region that combines natural beauty with agricultural traditions and outdoor recreational opportunities. The Valgaudemar valley offers access to mountain trails, skiing areas, and other Alpine activities that attract visitors throughout the year. The nearby Écrins National Park provides additional opportunities for hiking, mountaineering, and nature observation. The arrondissement of Gap serves as the administrative, economic, and cultural center for this portion of the Hautes-Alpes department. Gap itself is a city of approximately 40,000 residents that serves as a regional hub for services, commerce, and transportation in the Alpine region. ## References 1. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 2. INSEE code 3. répertoire géographique des communes 4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 5. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 6. Populations légales 2016 7. Populations légales 2017 8. Populations légales 2018 9. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602) 10. Populations légales 2019 11. Populations légales 2020 12. Populations légales 2021 13. Populations de référence 2022 14. Populations de référence 2023 15. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0 16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 18. GeoNames 19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 20. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z) 21. [Source](http://www.champsaur-valgaudemar.com/fr/ete/complements/liste-webcam.html) 22. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)