To French Grenoble. The first plane to the "capital of the Alps" will leave on January 14, which means you have time to decide whether to buy tickets there (which, by the way, will cost € 25 one way). And here are five compelling arguments for you.
In Grenoble you can "take" the Bastille
Grenoble is the most Old city France. It was first mentioned in 43 BC. Protected from all sides by mountains, the "capital of the Alps" is well preserved: a curious tourist will be able to explore the length and breadth of ancient sacred structures - for example, temple complex with cathedrals, palace-museums, churches and powerful fountains, or build a timeline of Grenoble history in your head in Archaeological Museum (Place Saint Laurent).
lovers beautiful views and conquering heights (at least on a city scale), we advise you to climb the main local attraction - Fort Bastille (Fort de la Bastille, Quai Stephane Jay). You can do it on foot or by car, but we advise you to take a ride on the funicular, which the locals affectionately call "eggs" or "bubbles". And don't be fooled by its fashionable look - this is Europe's oldest urban cable car, which was opened in 1934. Pay attention, the funicular operates from April to September, but from the fortress all year round a gorgeous view opens up: the tiled roofs of the old quarters, bell towers, crooked streets, cathedral spiers and, of course, mountains.
Go exploring the Alps
It is from Grenoble that the main cycling and hiking routes in the Alps originate. At your service 600 kilometers of pedestrian and 320 km of bike paths - free cards With detailed description and instructions are waiting for you in the city tourism office (14 rue de la Republique).
Hikers will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of views that open up along the way. The routes pass through the mountains of Chartreuse, Beldon and Vercors, National parks, mountain rivers and lakes. Look for inspiration.
On a bike you can climb even further or go around the entire picturesque suburb - as do the locals, who even in winter do not get off their bikes. The easiest way to get personal transport is in the MetroVelo bike rental system.
Go skiing
Ski in hand and go: from December to early May in Grenoble ski and snowboard season. Three large ski resorts are waiting for you very close to the city.
Alpe d'Huez. The resort, which is called the "island of the sun" - all because the sun is here 300 days a year. Here you will find a 16 km long descent - the longest in Europe.
Les Deux Alpes. 17 green runs, 36 blue, 10 red and 10 black. Moreover, the complex is open all year round! Winner of last year's World Snow Awards, this resort is also renowned for its high sun exposure and excellent après skiing opportunities.
Le Grave. Extreme lovers, hey! La Grave offers trails for extreme downhill skiing and once a year a camp for snowboarders from all over the world.
Pay attention - for skis or a board Wizz Air takes an additional fee: €30 in advance and €60 at the airport.
Get lost in the biggest liquor cellar
Most likely, you have already seen a lot of cognac factories, cellars and wine cellars. And what about the liquor cellar, and the longest in the world? Go to the city of Voiron, which is located 25 km from Grenoble. It is there that the monastery of the Carthusians is located. (10 Bd Edgar-Kofler) who have been driving since the 19th century Chartreuse liqueur. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t heard of such a drink: on a free tour of Les Caves de la Chartreus, you can not only walk with the monks through the cellars, immerse yourself in the production process, but also taste and grab a couple of bottles a little cheaper, than in supermarkets. Please note that in winter the basements are open only on weekdays. By the way, the word "chartreuse" refers not only to liquor, but also to its color.
The city of Grenoble in France bears the unofficial title of "Capital of the French Alps" and at the same time is considered the most flat in all of Europe. It is located at the confluence of the Iser and Drak rivers, surrounded by mountain peaks and, despite this, its landscape does not even remotely resemble hilly. Ancient and modern architecture harmoniously coexist here. Scientists and students come here from all over the country, because this cosmopolitan city rightfully bears the title of the university center of France. In winter and summer, tourists who come to Grenoble try to combine their acquaintance with it with an active holiday, conquering the ski slopes on the slopes surrounding the city or exploring the numerous mountain hiking trails.
Business card
Grenoble is a famous city. It was here, in the house at 14 Jean-Jacques Rousseau, that the legendary French writer Stendhal was born, which the locals are incredibly proud of. In 1968, Grenoble became known to the whole world, becoming the capital of the Winter Olympic Games. And even part of the action of the novel by Patrick Suskind "Perfumer" takes place in Grenoble!
History and modernity
In the 1st century BC, the first fortified settlement called Kularo appeared in these places. It was founded by the Celtic tribe of the Allobroges. Only in the 3rd century AD, this place acquired the status of a city, which was renamed Gratianopolis in honor of the Western Roman Emperor Flavius Gratian in 381. Subsequently, the name, under the influence of linguistic changes, was transformed into Grenoble. Over the long centuries of its existence, the city managed to visit the kingdom of Provence and the feudal formation of Dauphine. The Great French Revolution owes its beginning to this very place - in 1788, local residents defeated government troops, influencing the entire subsequent history of the country. So Grenoble in France can rightly be called a landmark city.
What to see, where to visit
One of the main attractions of Grenoble is its famous Bastille fortress, located on one of the hills of the Chartreuse mountain range. The fortress acquired the look that it has now in the 19th century, but back in the 16th century, during the religious wars, a defensive structure stood in its place. Today, the Bastille is of exclusively excursion interest: with its observation deck offers an amazing view of the city, and the center of modern art, a restaurant and a military museum, located within the walls of the fortress, allow you to spend time here with interest and pleasure.
An equally noticeable attraction of Grenoble is its cable car connecting historical Center with the Bastille. The funicular was erected in 1934, then its cabins had the shape of a dodecahedron and could carry up to 15 passengers at a time. The cable car acquired its current appearance only in 1976, instantly becoming one of the main symbols of the city. Its plexiglass "bead booths" remind the locals of large soap bubbles, which is why they call them "bulles". The funicular literally adorns the urban landscape, like an outlandish necklace.
Another symbol of Grenoble is three high-rise tower houses built for the 1968 Olympics. In France, these were far from the first Olympic Games, because their organizers, using all the accumulated experience, decided in this way to modernize the look of the city. Built in the middle of the last century, the towers still look very modern.
Entertainment and active recreation
Fans of unhurried walks should definitely look into Paul Mistral Park. In the hot season, you can hide from the summer heat or have a picnic in the shade of trees. Those wishing to get to know the city better will enjoy a walk along a special route on the city train Le Petit Train de la Mure, which passes through the most picturesque corners of French Grenoble. Shopping fans will also find something to do here. The Grenette area is full of shops and boutiques where you can buy whatever you want.
Local cuisine and wines
Local dishes literally beckon with their aroma: a huge number of herbs grow in this region, with which local chefs generously flavor their masterpieces. Potatoes soaked in milk sauce, baked under cream in the oven - the famous "gratan" comes from here. Exquisite blue cheese is made only in this region of France. Grenoble will certainly offer you plenty of it. All this is perfectly combined with a magnificent 50-degree La Chartreuse drink.
Where to try all this? Connoisseurs of chic and gourmet cuisine will find the Auberge Napoleon restaurant considered one of the most prestigious in the city. Place Grenet, Saint André and Notre Dame offer wide choose cafe bars. You should definitely visit Bar 1900, Le Glacier, Le Bagatel and Le Perroquet, be sure to appreciate the small but very nice cocktail bar Styx, located in a 19th-century wine cellar on Quinveson Square.
Family holiday
Children in Grenoble will also be interested. The Paul Mistral park is located a large number of playgrounds, A Archaeological Museum with a rich collection of exhibits found during excavations on the banks of the Iser River, will allow the younger generation to get acquainted with history.
If you have not yet decided on a resort, then there is such a good option as the Les Orres ski resort, which is located in french alps at an altitude of 1650 meters. The resort has a very good location, thanks to which there is a sufficient amount of natural snow throughout the ski season. The first snows in Les Orres fall in early or mid-November and continue to lie until about mid-April. Despite such excellent conditions for skiing, this resort cannot be called mega popular among French and European tourists, but on the other hand, the lack large cluster skiers on the slopes is even a plus.
By French standards, Les Orres is considered a young resort, as it was built only in the early 70s. On this moment The infrastructure of this resort fully meets the needs of even the most demanding vacationers, there are a sufficient number of comfortable hotels, a well-developed network of cable cars, a large selection of entertainment for adults and children.
The resort got its name in honor of a small village of the same name. It is located down the slope and ski area has practically nothing to do with it, but it’s still worth a look into the village itself. It is a traditional alpine settlement, where people are engaged in various agricultural activities. The village has grown around its main attraction - the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, built in the 16th century. Life, culture and traditions of the local population have not changed for many centuries, and you can get acquainted with all this in more detail in the local museum of local lore.
The distance from Les Orres to Grenoble is 140 kilometers, and 195 kilometers is located italian city Turin. Total length trails in the resort is about 88 kilometers, while it should be borne in mind that most of the slopes are designed for beginners and skiers with an average level of training. In such a situation, the bulk of vacationers are couples with children. More difficult (steep) tracks are located at a height. If you are a confident skier, then you need to pay attention to the final station cable car Marmottes, which is located at an altitude of 2703 meters and from where you can go down several winding trails.
Those who prefer off-piste skiing should not rely solely on their own strength, as this is a risky undertaking, especially in an unfamiliar place. I'm not telling you to completely abandon such skiing, but it's better to spend a little money and use the services of a guide who knows the situation perfectly. There are also trails for snowboarders and those who like to spend their time cross-country skiing.
After skiing, you can relax in the sauna, swim in the outdoor pool with hot water, visit a massage parlor, bars, discos, restaurants.
Useful information for tourists about Grenoble in France - geographical position, tourism infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.
Grenoble is a city in the southeast of France, the capital of the department of Isère and historical area Dauphine. Grenoble is called the "capital of the Alps", but in fact it is an industrial, scientific center of the region and even a student city - it has three universities and several higher educational institutions. The city is located on the banks of the river Isère in a valley that is surrounded on three sides mountain ranges Chartreuse, Beldon and Vercors. There are several ski resorts in the vicinity of Grenoble, and the city itself can surprise tourists with its sights.
Around Grenoble there are about 20 ski stations, the nearest is Sappey-en-Chartreuse, and Autrans and Chamrusse are recognized as the most popular. Another ski station is located near the village of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse - it was here that the Olympic cross-country skiing took place in 1968. Nearby is Alpe d'Huez, the first ski resort in France, operating since 1936, which also hosted the Olympic Games. The resort has more than 200 kilometers of different tracks, including the longest 16-kilometer track in Europe, part of the route of which goes through the tunnel. Next to the resort is the route of the stage of the national cycle race "Tour de France". Linked to Alpe d'Huez is another major ski resort, Les Deux Alpes, which is located at the foot of the Monts de Lans glacier, and therefore you can ski here even in summer.
Tours of Grenoble usually start from the local Bastille fortress, which was built in the 19th century on top of one of the nearby hills to look out over the border. On the same bank of the Isère River is the Saint-Laurent quarter, also built in the 19th century. Inside the quarter is the church of the same name, which is considered one of the oldest in the country. Now it houses a small museum of the history of the city.
The center of old Grenoble is Place Saint-Andre, on which a monument is erected to the “knight without fear and reproach”, the governor of the Dauphine region, who lived in the 16th century, Pierre Terray de Bayard. He is known as a talented commander, in particular, the knighthood was granted to him for military merit. Others famous residents Grenoble were the writer Marie-Henri Bayle, famous under the pseudonym Stendhal, and the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Stendhal was born here, his house-museum is located on Place Gordes, and Rousseau lived in the house "Hotel Rabo" on the street named after him, and dined at the "Round Table" restaurant, one of the oldest in France. Other attractions of old Grenoble are the building of the Palace of Justice, built in 1480, the Dolphin Fountain, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the 13th century and former palace bishop.
New areas of Grenoble were built for the 1968 Olympic Games. In this part of the city, it is worth visiting the Grenoble Museum, which exhibits paintings by Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Paul Klee and other recognized masters of painting. Near the Sports Palace there is a fountain created from a bowl in which the Olympic flame was lit.
Chamrousse ski resort is located on three areas: Chamrousse 1650 (Recoin), Chamrousse 1750 (Roche Béranger) and Chamrousse 1700 (Bachat-Bouloud). These areas are connected ski slopes. A minibus runs between these recreation centers.
The Chamrousse resort was built in a wooded area, thus offering vacationers a magnificent panorama of the Grenoble valley. Chamrousse is considered to be a pretty big ski resort. It occupies an area of about 865 hectares, and 2/3 of its territory is located in a natural zone, which is protected. The mountain la Croix de Chamrousse is considered highest level resort, having a height of 2250 meters above sea level. The resort owns more than thirty-five pistes, 855 meters of slopes, 26 lifts of various types. The resort attracts with its comfortable location and mild climate.
The Chamrousse ski resort is suitable for both professionals and beginners, for whom special ski areas have been built. Here you can relax with whole families with children, because there is a specialized kindergarten for kids, where trained instructors and nannies will take care of them. Here they will be able to make their first descent from a small hill. Not only skiers recognized the advantages and benefits of the resort and its slopes, but also snowboarders, for whom a snow-park and half-pipe were built here. A small area of the resort is equipped with a fake snow system. The ski lifts offer unforgettable landscape views. In the resort of Chamrousse, in February, the Les Gaboureaux track begins its work, which is illuminated in the evening and, riding on it, you can admire the sunset, which will be remembered by vacationers for a long time.
One of the ski lifts serving Chamrousse1650 is the Des Gaboureaux chair lift, which runs over the red runs gaboureaux, stade F. Masnada, variante loups et jardins, and at its base runs the blue run chemin des demoiselles. The lift takes vacationers to one of the slopes of the mountain la Croix de Chamrousse, from where you can climb even higher on the chair lift Des Amoureux. Along the entire ascent, you can see high-growing trees, cannons, and many trails. The Gaboureaux run of the same name, which runs right under the ski lifts, is equipped with special lighting equipment for night skiing. The lift itself is located near the road that connects the two resorts Chamrousse1650 and Chamrousse1750. From 08.00 to 23.00 free bus transports tourists to different parts of the resort, so there is no need for a car or taxi.
Trail description
In the boundaries from 1420 to 2250 meters there is a skiing area. The entire length of the tracks is about 77 kilometers. They are very diverse here: there are both simple and very complex. There are 8 green slopes, 16 blue ones, 14 red ones, 8 black ones. These routes are served by 26 lifts. The heaviest track of the resort has a length of 4 kilometers. The descent is carried out among the growing trees, which perfectly protect vacationers from the wind, which makes the descent even more comfortable.
Ski schools
In the territory ski resort there are two schools: one for skiers, the other for snowboarders; 100 instructors. The cost for skiers is approximately 69 euro for 3 days, cross-country skiing for 2 days 46 euro, for snowboarders 48 euro for 2 days. The ski kindergarten in La Marmote accepts children from 3 months to 3 years of age, but the course takes place from the age of 7 years. There is also a guest kindergarten "Cubs Club", which accepts children from the age of 1 year, there is a separate ski area.
Ski pass
The cost of a ski pass is 134 euros for 6 days. For people over the age of 60 there are discounts, as well as a child rate; for people over 70 years old and for children under 5 years old the ski pass is free. The ski pass gives access to the main pistes and four tow lifts, two chairlifts that serve them.
How to get there
Chamrousse ski resort is located 30 kilometers from the city of Grenoble (about half an hour drive). This resort is much easier to get to than other Alpine resorts. Lyon is the nearest airport and Grenoble is the railway station. There is a regular bus service from Lyon Airport. From railway station Grenoble buses run 5 times a day.
