There are 2 arrondissements in the Hautes-Alpes department. The French departments, and in other countries, are divided into arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts (in some cases, as boroughs). The capital of an arrondissement is called a subprefecture.
If the prefecture (capital) of the department is in an arrondissement, that prefecture is the capital of the arrondissement, acting both as a prefecture and as a subprefecture.
Arrondissements are further divided into communes.
The arrondissements of the Hautes-Alpes are:
History
Since its creation, the Hautes-Alpes department has had few changes: 1790 : creation of the department with four districts: Briançon, Embrun, Gap and Serres; the capital was Chorges but in the same year it was moved to Gap. 1800 : creation of three arrondissements: Gap, Briançon and Embrun. 1926 : the arrondissement of Embrun was eliminated.