a strongly fortified town of France, in the department of Upper Alps, capital of an arrondissement of the same name on the right bank of the Durance, 50 miles E.S.E. of Grenoble. It is the highest town of France, being nearly 4300 feet above the level of the sea, and is surrounded by still loftier elevations crowned by forts communicating with each other and with the town, and making it all but impregnable. Pop. (1851) of town, 3433; of arrondissement, 30,982.