Grenoble (Isère)

A former winter olympic city with many winter sporting facilities. There are many restaurants to suit all pockets and all tastes covering almost every cuisine.

Grenoble (Isère) mini guide

The city of Grenoble is located in south east France at the foot of the Alps where the Drac joins the Isère river. It is the capital of the département of Isère. Grenoble is one of the sunniest places in France and enjoys 2,000 hours of sunshine each year.

One of the most striking features of Grenoble is its dramatic setting. Look down any street and you'll get a glimpse of the Alps rising majestically up in the background. For the best view of all, take the cable car up from Quai Stéphane Jay, which is on the south bank of the River Drac, to the Bastille, a 16th century fortress perched on a rocky outcrop above the city. From there, you enjoy a panorama of the whole of the surrounding region, including the red roofs and straight Roman roads of the city and the mountain peaks beyond.

Surrounded by mountains there are some twenty ski stations in the area. Ski resorts, such as Tignes, Val d'Or and Val d'Isere, are only a one hour’s drive to the South away. At most of these places, one can ski all year round.

In addition to winter sports the city is also known for its walnuts, for which it enjoys an appelation of controlled origin, and for the manufacture of gloves.

Grenoble's old town, the lively Notre Dame district, occupies the Left Bank of the Isère. It is packed with interesting shops, busy bars and numerous restaurants in a maze of narrow streets.

There are many restaurants to suit all pockets and all tastes covering almost every cuisine, but most common are Italian and Asian.

Some places to see are:

Natural History Museum, 1 rue Dolomieu The museum has nice collections of mineralogy, wild life in the Alps and an aquarium.
Art Gallery (Musée de Grenoble), 5, place Lavalette (near the Cathedral) is one of the best museums in France. It has a superb collection of ancient and contemporary art and is situated in a beautiful park on the edge of the old town.
Musée Dauphinois, 30, rue Maurice-Gignoux This museum is housed in the former convent of Ste-Marie-d'en-Haut, on the side of the Bastille hill. It displays permanent and temporary exhibitions about the people and lifestyle of the former province of Dauphiné. Outside the building are pleasant gardens of the convent with a nice view. Exhibition are both in French and in English.
Musée De L'Ancien Eveche, 2, rue Très Cloître. This museum is housed in the former bishop's palace at Place Notre Dame. It has exhibits and art which tell the history of the Isère region and its people from Prehistoric times up to the present. There are also the ruins of ancient Roman walls and baptistry, dating from the IV century. Free Audioguide (French or English) available.

Guide point	Details
Department:	The Rhone Alps (SE France) > Rhone Alps > Isère >
Location:	The city of Grenoble is located in south east France at the foot of the Alps
Public Transport:	Several high speed trains (TGV) from SNCF link Paris to Grenoble directly every day, for the three-hour trip of 640 km. Grenoble has led the redevelopment of tramways in France. "50% of public transport use is now by tram." Grenoble's tramway is at the centre of the redevelopment of the whole city, which also includes pedestrianisation, buildings renovation and landscaping. The tram network is complemented by the public bus service. The city is also served by air and motorway.
Tourist information website:	http://www.grenoble-isere-tourisme.com/english/default.asp
Tourist information contact email:	res@grenoble-isere.info
Tourist information switch board number:	+33 (0)4 56 52 38 38
Tourist information address:	14 rue de la République, Grenoble
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