GRENOBLE ❘ CITY FOCUS
FIVE MUST-SEE SITES IN GRENOBLE
From skiing to châteaux to cookery to yoga, Grenoble has something for everyone… here are fi ve of our favourites
STRAP ON SOME SKIS Found in the middle of fi ve mountain ranges, Grenoble is surrounded by 20 ski resorts with something for all levels, ranging from gentle beginner runs to the most advanced. With the nearest slopes just 20 minutes away, everything is easily accessible too. If skiing is not your thing, there is also climbing, canyoning, skating, cycling and much more. And the scenery is remarkable whatever the season.
TAKE A CABLE CAR TRIP Nicknamed ‘The Bubbles’, Grenoble’s iconic cable cars offer a magnifi cent view over the city and mountains – on a clear day, it’s possible to see the tip of Mont Blanc. Opened in 1934, Le Téléphérique de la Bastille was one of the world’s fi rst urban cable cars. The distinctive pods take passengers 500m up to the Bastille military fort, where there is also a museum and restaurants, in just fi ve minutes.
This image and below: The view at Monté e Chalemont in Grenoble; the Chronové lo cycle lane in the city centre
A BENCHMARK CITY
This is just one of many impressive green initiatives in Grenoble. Located at the meeting point of several mountain ranges in the Alps – where climate change has been particularly evident – the city has a long-standing reputation for innovation and sustainability, which culminated in it being named European Green Capital for 2022. Notably, Grenoble was the fi rst city in France to adopt a local Climate Action Plan, back in 2005. It was also the country’s fi rst large city to widely apply the 30km/h speed limit, creating one of the largest Low-Emission Zones. Then, in 2020, Grenoble became the country’s fi rst city to have a motorway lane specifi cally reserved for car sharing and a comprehensive carpooling service with guaranteed departures. Even the local sewage works is part of the story, producing enough biogas to power 125 buses and the city’s refuse trucks. On top of all that, Grenoble is also one of the country’s leading cities for cycling. Although surrounded by mountains, it is relatively fl at, with some 200km of bike paths – and, according to the latest Barometer of Cycling Cities, it has the best bicycle
SOAK UP SOME CULTURE Grenoble is a city with an impressive cultural heritage too. Among its many excellent museums are the Musée de Grenoble, with one of the richest art collections in Europe; the Musée Archéologique Saint-Laurent, with its fascinating Merovingian-era crypt; and the Musée Dauphinois, with its presentations of historic mountain life and skiing. Eleven of the museums are free to visit all year-long.
VISIT A FAIRY-TALE CHÂTEAU Located in lovely landscaped gardens with a huge ornamental lake, Domaine de Vizille is a spectacular château that has at various times been home to the Dukes of Lesdiguières, the powerful Périer family and the presidents of the 3rd and 4th French Republics. Today, it is the setting for a fascinating museum that tells the story of the French Revolution through art, with guided visits, children’s workshops and more.
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UNWIND IN NATURE Grenoble offers the perfect chance to get away from modern life and relax in pristine nature. From conscious hiking, forest baths and paddle yoga to contemplation from breathtaking belvederes, there are all sorts of activities on offer to help everyone unwind in the beautiful Alpine landscape. There is even a guided trail where you can forage for wild plants and use them in a cookery class.
Jun/Jul 2023 FRANCE TODAY ❘ 35
IMAGES © LUCAS FRANGELLA/GRENOBLE ALPES MÉ TROPOLE, AGENCE GRENOBLE ALPES / PIERRE JAYET, ALAIN DOUCE, GRENOBLE ALPES TOURISME, MUSÉE DE GRENOBLE/FACEBOOK
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