La Rochette (Hautes-Alpes)

La Rochette is a commune with 445 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur. It belongs to the canton of La Batie -Neuve and the Local Government Association Vallée de l' Avance.

Geography

La Rochette is located at the Valley of the Luye at the foot of the mountain Puy de Manse in the Massif des Ecrins, 7.4 kilometers northeast of Gap, between the cantonal capital of La Batie -Neuve in the southeast and the neighboring community of Forest -Saint -Julien in the northwest. The Luye rises near La Batie -Neuve. The districts are at different heights. The lieux - dits ("place, which is called ...") Manse -Vieille, Le Puy and Les Moutas lie in the mountains north of the village, the lieux - dits Le Village ( center ) and Les Guérins above the valley but in the the foot of the Puy de Manse, the hamlet of Pont- Sarrazin and Petit Larra lie south of the village in the valley of Luye. Accordingly, the climate in the northern and central districts in the winter is cold, it falls much snow and the Bise blows frequently, in the valley of Luye the climate is milder and corresponds to the Gap.

History

La Rochette was (52 BC to 486) inhabited in Gallo-Roman times. The place Ictodurum was probably in Manse -Vieille. This theory is corroborated by findings of Gallo-Roman tombs in Manse -Vieille. Near the town to another was lieu- dit named route Soubeyrane (such as " high road " ), which was mentioned in 1591. This could also be an indication. Ictodurum lay on the Via Domitia halfway between Vapincum ( Gap ) and Caturigomagus ( Chorges ). Other theories place Ictodurum to La Batie -Vieille, La Batie -Neuve or even after Avançon

The name first appeared in documents in the 14th century as Rocheta what is referred to in Provençal, a small fortification.

Population Development

Attractions

On a steep slope called Chapeau de Napoléon ( Napoleon's hat) stands the ruined castle Auriac from the 12th century.