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Prefecture and commune in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Photo: Brücke-Osteuropa, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Grenoble is a city of around 158,000 inhabitants in 2017 (550,000 taking into account the metropolitan area) in the French Alps.
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An ancient series of fortifications overlooking Grenoble. May be reached by cable car bastille-grenoble.com, round trip €8, or by a 40-minute hike. Enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the city and surrounding mountains from the top. On the Saint-Laurent side, giant stairways are impressive to climb or descend. On the way up you will also encounter a building that used to house the Institut Dolomieu but has been abandoned and in ruins since 2001. You can still walk into some of the old classrooms and lecture theatres.
A big park in the centre of the city. It includes a roller skating rink and people often play street hockey. The park also boasts extensive lawns and quiet tree-lined avenues. At the centre stands the tower Perret, built in 1925 for an international exposition about water-power. When illuminated at night with blue lights, it bears a considerable resemblance to both Dr. Who's sonic screwdriver and the Tower of Mordor. For at least 50 years, it has been impossible to go up due to safety problems. After renovations, the tower will reopen to the public in 2022.
The museum is worth seeing for the modern, smart building alone. It houses paintings of the Florentine school, majestic large formats of French, Flemish, Dutch and Spanish schools and also houses a nice collection of modern art; among others, the museum holds four Picassos, a few good Matisses, one Miro, one Kandinsky and one Andy Warhol. Two rooms contain antiquities from ancient Egypt, with particularly beautiful sarcophagi, the city of Grenoble is linked to the story of Champollion and that of Egyptology. The museum also organizes two exhibitions every year.
Natural History Museum
Facilities for the disabled. The museum has some nice collections on the subject of mineralogy and Alpine wildlife, and also houses an aquarium.
A joint research facility supported by 19 countries. Short visits are designed for groups of 10-15 persons.
This museum is housed in the former convent of Ste-Marie-d'en-Haut, on the side of the Bastille hill. It houses permanent and temporary exhibitions about the people and lifestyle of the historic province of Dauphiné. There are also exhibitions with wider interest as on the solar clocks in 2014, on the links with Japan in 2019. But the visit of the chapel is the main attraction of the museum. Outside the building are pleasant gardens with a nice view over the city. Access by car is difficult and it is best to walk to it by the climb of Chalemont via the Saint-Laurent footbridge. Exhibitions are in French and English.
Admission is free. The museum is housed in the former bishop's palace on Place Notre Dame. It displays objects and pieces of art narrating the history of the Isère region and its people from Prehistoric times up to the present. Under the museum is an archaeological crypt; the remains of the city's Roman walls and a remarkable 4th-century baptistry, discovered during work on tram line B, are not to be missed. Ask for a free audioguide (French or English) at reception.
History of the extremely active French resistance in the Alps during World War II. Information is in English, French and German. Entry is free.
Opened in 1846. It is considered to be a unique archeological site. Over 3000 artifacts and objects have been recovered here.
Musée des troupes de montagne
The Musée de la Révolution française (Museum of French Revolution) is an art museum housed in the Château de Vizille, which has a long history of artistic conservation. A little city about 14 km south of Grenoble. Several busts are faithful representations of Antoine Barnave, Bailly, Mirabeau, Louis XVII, Robespierre, Danton and his wife Antoinette, and General Lafayette. Among his many paintings, it houses the first representation of the French Republic, a small painting painted by Jean-Baptiste Wicar in 1793.
The Museum of Champollion hosted in the family home Champollion. Jean-François Champollion and his brother Jacques-Joseph lived in Grenoble for 17 years. Vif is a little city about 10 km in south of Grenoble.
A train trip with 18 tunnels and a spectacular view on the river Drac and the dam of Monteynard. Saint-Georges-de-Commiers, 17 km from Grenoble. A major rockslide in late 2010 caused the closure of the line. Reopened in 2021.
A small set of caves in the suburbs of Grenoble, can be visited on a guided tour to be reserved in advance.
Cattedrale di Grenoble
The current Grenoble Cathedral was mainly built in the 13th century and showcases a distinctive Gothic architectural style, notable for its use of brick and a five-sided apse with a vaulted ceiling. The cathedral is part of an exceptionally well-preserved episcopal complex, which includes the nearby Church of Saint-Hugues, a bishop’s residence, cloister, baptistery, and canons’ houses—offering a rare glimpse into medieval ecclesiastical life. Inside, visitors can admire a flamboyant Gothic ciborium from the 15th century, adding to the church’s artistic and historical value. Restoration efforts in the 19th century and archaeological discoveries, including remnants of a 4th-century baptistery found in 1989, have deepened the cathedral’s historical significance. A free tourist guide gives a potted history of the building and some of its works of art (in French, with an English translation written by a native speaker).
French: téléphérique
The cable car is the easiest way to see the town from above, and the trip in the plastic bubbles is impressive. At the summit (some 260 m above the town) is a 19th-century fortress, La Bastille. When you arrive at the top, you can explore the fortifications, have a meal or light refreshments, follow winding paths further up the mountainside or simply enjoy the view (on a clear day Mont Blanc is visible in the distance). If you take the path (GR9) to the rear of the Bastille, you can walk approx 20-30 min further up to Mont Jalla to get an even better view, where there is a memorial to the mountain troops who fought in World War II and a monument erected on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Grenoble (1944). You can also walk up to the Bastille via one of several paths or go by car from the city of La Tronche. Paths start from the Fountain of lion on the East side, (this path is called Montée Chalemont) or a park on the West, near the large arch (called Jardin des Dauphins).
South American restaurant.
While not really related to Mexican tacos, this fast food French interpretation can be interesting. Here you can enjoy a Cordon Bleu "taco".
Not a restaurant, but a world-renowned cheesemongery. Recommended if you want to discover any of their 1200 kinds of cheese, sourced from all over the world. Cheese prices range from grocery store pricing on up.
Well known in the southeast of France and western Switzerland, fondue is a traditional dish during the wintertime. La Fondue restaurant serves traditional fondue (emmental and gruyère cheese) with mix ins as well as some non-traditional fondues (cheddar, for example). There is a lunch menu that includes basic fondue, salad, wine, and coffee; dinner prices are similar but include less. You need at least 2 people to order fondue.
French cuisine.
French cuisine
French cuisine.
French cuisine.
This is the only local restaurant with two Michelin stars (and prices to match, of course).
This is a nice big family pub with a large terrace. One of the best pubs in Grenoble with plenty of Anglophones as well as locals.
For those who like to pitch a tent and pack out everything they've packed in.
Rates starting at €31 for a single room. Well-kept hotel with friendly staff in the centre-ville.
The residence offers apartments ranging from two-person studios to one-bedroom apartments, each apartment houses a bathroom with a separate toilet and a separate kitchen area.
A modern, comfortable space with WiFi available and good rates. Central location.
Central location, good standard of service and comfort, and moderate prices. Great if you just want a nice place to rest.
Very decent prices, lovely views of the city, good service and comfortable rooms.
Deluxe hotel, renowned for its professional service and old-fashioned charm. Located near a park with a path for jogging/biking. The well-regarded restaurant serves food all day until midnight. It is undergoing gradual renovation after joining Accor's MGallery Collection.
Place Déesse Hygie; Uriage-les-Bains; (Uriage les Bains, a small health resort 10 km from Grenoble) - Excellent location with all modern comforts, if lacking a bit of charm. Attentive staff and a calm, quiet lobby with sporadic live piano music.
By car
Grenoble can be difficult to navigate by car, but once you get there the "Park and Ride" (parking relais) system operated by Tag-parking is a good way of getting around. (see trams and buses)
By train
com link Paris to Grenoble directly every day, for a three-hours trip of 640 km. Full price is about €70 for a one-way ticket.
By taxi
By regional bus
Many regional buses can take you from the bus station (gare routiere, by the train station) to ski stations and several towns in the surrounding countryside.70.
By tram or city bus
Five tram lines cross the town with services every few minutes (less frequent on Sundays or at night) and an extensive bus network operates within the city itself, the suburbs and villages further…
By bicycle
Despite its mountainous surroundings, Grenoble is one of the flattest cities in Europe, so cycling is an easy way of getting around.
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Grenoble · Regional · GNB
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