Grenoble, France – an iconic city of the country, the point where the Great Revolution of 1789 was born, the small homeland of Stendhal, the capital of the French Alps. People come here to relax from all over the world. Tourists appreciate this place for its pleasant atmosphere, abundance of attractions and clean cool air.
General information
Grenoble is a beautiful French city that appeared on the map about 2 thousand years ago. Currently, it is the administrative center of the Yser department and the capital of the historical region of Dauphinay (south-eastern France). Its population is slightly more than 160 thousand people, with suburbs – up to 550 thousand.
The history of this place began with a small settlement called Kularo, which for many years of its existence has turned into a large picturesque town with a rich historical and cultural heritage. Modern Grenoble fascinates with its luxurious architecture, unique atmosphere and beautiful nature. Located at the foot of the Alps, it is considered one of the most picturesque corners of France. Here, old European streets contrast with modern buildings, and the developed infrastructure perfectly fits into the surrounding panorama.
The location of Grenoble is really very favorable from the point of view of tourism. It is located at the intersection of three valleys and is crossed by two rivers (Drak and Yser – lion and snake). In addition, almost all sides of the settlement are surrounded by large mountain ranges-Beldon, Vercors and Chartreuse. Their slopes are covered with green forest, and snow lies on the peaks. The climate in this region is moderately continental, with a slight influence of the Mediterranean. In winter, the air temperature drops to -10°C. Summers are quite hot and stuffy (up to +35°C), as there is almost no wind due to the proximity of the mountains.
Now the city of Grenoble is the most important cultural, educational, scientific and industrial center of France. It has 12 museums of various fields (ethnology, classical and modern art, science and technology, archeology, antiquities, etc.) and many enterprises of the light, chemical and paper industries. In addition, there is a well-developed mechanical engineering industry and such important facilities as the Center for nuclear Research, the center for innovative technologies “Minatek”, the industrial center and the European Synchrotron Radiation Center are located here. The city is also famous for its university, which is one of the top five universities in France. UGA is often called a “three-in-one” university, because it consists of three institutions with dozens of faculties in various fields.
No less interesting is Grenoble from a tourist point of view. Walking through its streets, you will see many historical sights, architectural objects, souvenir shops and antique shops. If you want, you can arrange a hike in the mountains, and then go to a cafe and taste the legendary gratin, the national dish of France, the recipe of which is usually passed down from generation to generation. On a hot summer day, take a dip in the icy mountain lakes, and spend long evenings drinking beer and philosophizing with local intellectuals.
Attractions in Grenoble
Grenoble is a city with a long history, so attractions are literally at every turn. Museums, temples, parks, fountains-there are places to walk and what to see. If you have enough time, you can go around everything. Otherwise, we recommend exploring the most interesting places.
The Bastille
Fort de la Bastille is one of the main symbols of the city, depicted on photos of Grenoble on the Internet and on tourist avenues. It is a series of ancient fortifications built on top of a hill opposite the Old Town. In the old days, there was a local prison and an observation post to protect the valley from the enemy. Now it is a center for contemporary art and a military museum. In addition, some of the premises have been converted into halls for various events.
The height of the hill is small, but the view is simply excellent. Everywhere you look, there are alpine meadows and authentic urban surroundings. There is a funicular going up (6 € one way, 9 € both ways), but you can go on foot (about 40 minutes). By the way, the Grenoble funicular was built in 1934 and became one of the first on the planet.
On the territory of the Bastille there are ruins of ancient fortifications built of large stones, and a watchtower from the 16th century. There are also several viewing platforms, 2 panoramic restaurants and a children’s entertainment obstacle course.
- Location: Fort de La Bastille, Grenoble, France.
- Admission is free of charge.
- Opening hours: Monday-from 11: 00 to 00: 00, Tuesday-Sunday-from 09: 15 to 00: 00.
- Official website: https://bastille-grenoble.fr/.
Dauphinet Museum
Musée Dauphinois is a famous French museum. Located near the Bastille in the old monastery of Ste-Marie-d’en-Haut. Dedicated to the history of the region. Within its walls is a rich exposition that tells about the traditions and culture of local residents, as well as different historical periods of the Dauphinet region. Every year, the museum hosts 2-3 exhibitions, accompanied by heated discussions and conferences.
Each time, one of them explores a specific area of historical heritage – industrial, agricultural, regional, or archaeological. In the museum’s collection you can find a lot of interesting things-from three-dimensional family trees to armor of the Middle Ages. In addition, the Dauphinet Museum has expositions that tell about the development of skiing.
- Address: Musée Dauphinois, Rue Maurice Gignoux, Grenoble, France.
- Admission is free.
- Opening hours: weekdays-from 10: 00 to 18: 00, Sat — – Sun. – from 10: 00 to 19: 00, closed on Tuesday.
- Official website: https://musees.isere.fr/musee/musee-dauphinois.
Daufeng Garden
The Jardin des Dauphins is the most famous park in Grenoble, which is worth a visit after an impressive sightseeing tour of the city. The garden is located in a very picturesque place – on the banks of the Yser River just below Fort de La Bastille. Its main characteristic feature is the constant alternation of slopes and terraces laid out on the site of old fortifications.
The garden occupies a large area (about 30 hectares), where a huge number of wild shrubs and ancient trees grow. All along this natural splendor, there are walking paths that are pleasant to walk along on hot days.
- Location: Musée Dauphinois, Rue Maurice Gignoux, Grenoble, France.
- Admission is free.
- Opening hours: 01-15.09-every day from 09: 00 to 20: 00, 09-31.03-every day from 09: 00 to 18: 00.
- Website: https://www.grenoble-tourisme.com/fr/catalogue/detail/jardin-des-dauphins-51017/.
Garden of Wil
Jardin de Ville is a typical French garden located near the Old Town. It once belonged to the family of the Dukes of Lediguieres and was called treasury meadow, but in 1710 it became the property of the city. The most famous attraction of this place is the Lediguieroux mansion, dating back to the 17th century. Now its premises are occupied by the Association of International Relations.
Another special feature of Jardin de Ville is the elegant French flower beds, palm trees, colorful rose gardens and orange trees in tubs. They create a contrast with the surrounding forests, which are dominated by centuries-old sycamores, chestnuts and linden trees. In warm weather, tourists and residents of Grenoble like to have picnics here and relax on the lawns. In summer, the garden becomes a venue for various events.
- Location: 5 Jardin de Ville, 38000, Grenoble, France.
- Admission is free.
- Official website: https://www.grenoble.fr/lieu/353/137-jardin-de-ville.htm.
Grenoble Museum
The Museum of Grenoble is called the City Museum of Art, which houses almost the richest collection of paintings in Europe from antiquity to the present day (from the 13th to the 20th century). The exhibition features paintings by such famous world artists as Matisse, Picasso, Philippe de Champaign, Surbaran, Rubens, Gauguin, Georges de Latour, Canaletto and others. Several rooms of the museum are occupied by objects of Roman and Greek archeology, as well as unique Egyptian antiquities.
All collections are presented in chronological order. In total, there are about 800 sculptural and pictorial works, divided into 2 sections. One is dedicated to the great schools of painting of the 13th and 19th centuries. The second one is dedicated to 20th-century art.
No less interesting is the building that houses the museum. This is an old building, which has preserved the Tour de l’Isle tower. It is almost the only fragment of the fortifications of Grenoble that has survived to this day since the 14th century. Entrance to the tower is free. If it has an exhibition, you can get a ticket to the museum.
- Address: Musée de Grenoble, Place de Lavalette, Grenoble, France.
- Opening hours: from 10: 00 to 18: 30, Tuesday is a day off. The museum is closed on May 1, January 1, and December 25.
Ticket price:
- Full – 8 €;
- Discounted rate – 5 € (please check the website for details);
- Children under 18 – free of charge;
- Season ticket – 18 €;
- Audio guide – 2 €.
Official website: www.museedegrenoble.fr.
Saint Laurent Archaeological Museum
The Musée archéologique Saint-Laurent is often called one of the city’s most interesting attractions. And this is quite logical, because the museum building was built on the ruins of the first settlement that appeared before our era. This is a great place to go back in time and explore the history of Grenoble with artefacts.
The Archaeological Museum is located on the banks of the river Yser in the building of an old church built by Benedictine monks in the 12th century. Most of the exhibits presented in his collection were found here. All of them belong to a local monastery.
- Address: Musée Archéologique Grenoble Saint-Laurent, Place Saint-Laurent, Grenoble, France.
- Opening hours: from 10: 00 to 18: 00, Tuesday is a day off.
- Admission is free.
- Official website: https://musees.isere.fr/musee/musee-archeologique-saint-laurent.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame is a medieval church built on the ruins of the Gallo-Roman village of Cularo. The elegant pink brick building can be recognized by its wooden bas-reliefs, unusual Romanesque bell tower and Gothic elements decorating the choirs. The building was built in the 12th century, but its Gothic interior was decorated much later. Earlier on this site there was an original church built by the ancient Romans. Its remains can be seen if you go down to the dilapidated baptistery.
Not far from the cathedral is a house that used to belong to a local bishop. Now it has a Museum of the old baptistery. Its most striking exhibits are models of the first buildings and the remains of the first baptismal font for infants, found during excavations. Free travel guides tell you about the Cathedral of Notre-Dame and its paintings.
- Address: Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Place Notre Dame, Grenoble, France.
- Opening hours and masses: depending on the season and day of the week, please check on the website.
- Admission is free, there is an audio guide in Russian.
- Official website: www.cathedraledegrenoble.com.
Where to stay?
The city of Grenoble in France has a large selection of accommodation for every taste and budget. At the same time, the best places to live are considered areas located near the historical center, the railway station and two large squares – Place Grenette and Place Victor Hugo. The quarters near the railway station are perfect for those who arrive in the city by train. The station is close to the center and just a few steps away from most tourist attractions.
As for the Old Town and squares, it is often inhabited by those who come to Grenoble for a long time (at least for more than one day). This area is famous for its beautiful architecture and developed infrastructure (many cafes, bars and restaurants).
The cost of two adults staying in a 3* hotel or apartment starts from 45 € per night. In 4* – from 55 €. There are no five-star hotels in Grenoble.
How to get there?
Grenoble has developed transport links connecting it with many major cities in France and other countries-Lyon, Geneva, Paris, Marseille. There are several ways to get from them to your destination.
Method 1. Airplane
There are several airports in the immediate vicinity of Grenoble.
| Title | Distance from the city | Airport transfer | Cost of travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grenoble-Yser or Saint-Joire is a small airport for low-cost airlines. It mainly operates flights during the skiing season. It serves Norwegian Airlines, easyJet, and Ryanair. | 40 km | “Ben buses” – perform a group transfer to ski resorts. Departure several times a day. | 12.50 € – one way, 22 € – both ways. |
| Lyon Airport | 93 km | Buses run every hour. TGV trains – several times a day. | 22 € – round trip, 34,5 € – round trip. Tickets are valid for 2 months. |
| Geneva International Airport. It serves many local and international airlines. Compared to Lyon airport, Geneva is much cheaper. | 157 km | Direct buses and trains. | Bus – 56 €.Train – 23.60 €. If the train stops in Lyon, the ticket will cost more. |
Method 2. Train
A well-developed railway network connects Grenoble with several major cities in France.
Paris
Several direct high-speed trains of the SNCF carrier run daily between Grenoble and Paris. The distance between the cities is 640 km. Travel time is 3-4 hours. A full one-way ticket costs €70. Students and some other categories of passengers can take advantage of the Découverte discount, which reduces the amount of travel by 25% (valid 1 time). If you plan to stay in France for a long time and often travel by rail, we recommend that you buy the “12-25” card. It costs 50 € and gives a discount of 25 to 50%.
Lyon
Regional trains to Grenoble depart from Par Dieu Station approximately once an hour. The first flight leaves at 05:30, the last-at 00: 00. You can return to Lyon from 05: 00 to 22: 00. The journey takes from 75 to 90 minutes. A full ticket costs just over 20 €.
Sometimes TER buses are included in the railway transport schedule. There is no difference here – neither in the cost, nor in the duration of the journey, nor in the points of departure and destination. In addition, TER trains connect Grenoble with Valencia (60 minutes on the road), Geneva in Switzerland (2 hours) and the Southern Alps (Sisteron, Gap).
Marcel
Direct trains and trains with connections in Valence and Avignon run from Marseille to Grenoble. In the first case, the journey time will be 2.5 hours (310 km). In the second – 4.5 and about 6, respectively. Tickets start at€57. The first train departs at 06:13, the last-at 20: 14. They run regularly.
Method 3. Car
If you want to go to Grenoble by car, follow these routes::
- A 41 – Swiss Geneva;
- A 51 – Aix-en-Provence;
- A 48 – Paris and Lyon;
- And 49 – Marseille and Valencia.
Also, don’t forget to check out the “Park and Ride” parking map – it greatly facilitates the process of moving around the city and surrounding areas.
Method 4. Bus
Buses to Grenoble run from all major cities in France. And among them there are both direct flights and transfers – you will be able to choose the best option. It is better to book tickets in advance, this allows you to significantly save on travel.
Interesting facts
Grenoble, France – a city with a centuries-old history, in which there are still a lot of very interesting facts. Here are just a few of them:
- The production of gloves in the 18th century and the mining of white coal in the 19th contributed to the active development of the ordinary settlement.
- In 1968, Grenoble hosted the 10th Winter Olympic Games.
- It was here that such famous French figures as the commander Pierre de Bayard, the writer Stendhal and the mathematician Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier were born.
- There are more than 30 ski trails in the city that attract snowboard and ski enthusiasts.
- Some of the events described in the famous novel “The Perfumer” took place in Grenoble.
- In 2022, this city became the Green Capital of Europe.
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