A stroll through Grenoble.

For a day, a weekend, a week...

An original visit to the heart of the city to discover the curiosities that lie within. Uncover a heritage steeped in 2050 years of history from Gallo-Roman Cularo to Grenoble, French Alpine metropolis.

The surrounding Gallo-Roman wall, beginning of rue Lafayette

The surrounding Gallo-Roman wall, Grenoble

Ruins of the first wall that surrounded the city, built between 286 and 293 A.D., the wall included 39 towers when the emperor Diocletian promoted Cularo to administrative capital.

Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Grenoble

On January 23, 1783, at 14, rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, the famous romantic author Stendhal was born.

Don't miss the beautiful walnut-wood doors from the end of the 17th century and just opposite, the Renaissance-period tower of the Hotel Rabot.

Place Grenette

Place Grenette, Grenoble

Main square since the 17th century, it used to host grain and animal markets.

Don't miss the beautiful stone fountain, with its winged cherubs astride dolphins, sculpted by Victor Sappey.

Rue and porte de Bonne

Rue and porte de Bonne, Grenoble

Here once stood the former Bonne gateway, built around 1670, which served as the main entrance into the city on the south side. Napoleon entered Grenoble through this gateway the night of March 7, 1815 at the beginning of the hundred days.

Don't miss the beautiful 17th century doors with cast iron imposts on rue de Bonne.

Place Victor Hugo

Place Victor Hugo, Grenoble

Created in 1885, on the site of a bastion and former military barracks, the square rapidly became the new, elegant center of the city with its chestnut trees and turn of the century facades.

Rue Félix Poulat

Rue Félix Poulat, Grenoble

Just opposite the Saint Louis church that was consecrated in 1699, these two buildings, nicknamed « the elephant buildings » were built after 1900 and are typicaly of false stone architecture.

Apart from the ground floor, the decorative elements and the facades are all made of molded cement. Even the bricks are false! 

Former 3 Dauphins tavern

Former 3 Dauphins tavern, Grenoble

Napoleon spent two nights on the first floor here in March 1815.

At the time, a certain Labarre, veteran of the campaign in Egypt, owned and operated the tavern.

Don't miss the three elegant fountains just opposite the site. They date from 1676.

Jardin de Ville

Jardin de Ville, Grenoble

Once a private garden of the Dukes of Lesdiguières, the park became public in 1719 and hosts a number of important events every summer.

Near the French-style flowerbeds, the former Hotel de Lesdiguières, built between 1600 and 1650, acted as the town hall from 1719 to 1967. Today it houses the Maison de l'International.

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Grenoble-Bastille cable car

Grenoble-Bastille cable car, Grenoble

Discover Grenoble an dits early 19th century fortifications at the Bastille fort by taking the cable car, built in 1934 and modernized in 1976.

With the « bubbles », you can ascend 260 meters of vertical drop in just a few minutes.

Vauban lookout point

Vauban lookout point, Grenoble

Admire the entire site of the capital of the Alps, from the Mont Blanc and the Belledonne mountain chain to the east, the Obiou to the south, and the Vercors mountains. Below sits the old city along the banks of the Isere river.

Geological Terrace

Geological Terrace, Grenoble

This terrace offers a view of the west side of Grenoble, with Europe's longest avenue (8 km), the Scientific Polygon and its research institutes (CEA, Synchrotron, ILL, Minatec) between the Drac and the Isere rivers.

Place de Gordes

Place de Gordes, Grenoble

A picturesque square in the old town, created in 1791 on the site of the provost house Saint André monks.

Saint-André Church

Saint-André Church, Grenoble

Construction began on the church in 1228 under the order of the Dauphin Guigues VI. Like the other 13th and 14th century religious and noble constructions in Grenoble, the church is built of brick.

Place Saint-André

Place Saint-André, Grenoble

Site of the Dauphins' power, Saint André square is lined by the former parliament house of Dauphiné with its Renaissance and Gothic facades.

 The Café de la Table Ronde is the second oldest café in France, built in 1739. Discover the mausoleum of knight Bayard in the church.

Place aux Herbes

Place aux Herbes, Grenoble

Site of the people's power in the Middle Ages, this square was the main gathering place for Grenoble's inhabitants and still welcomes a farmers' market on Tuesday and Sunday mornings.

Saint-Laurent Footbridge

Saint-Laurent Footbridge, Grenoble

Built in 1837 and modernized in 1909, the bridge stands where Grenoble's first bridge was built at the end of the 11th century. The older bridges were often destroyed by flooding of the Isere river.

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Old courtyard, rue Chenoise

Old courtyard, rue Chenoise

An important road outside the ramparts up until the 14th century, this street hides numerous courtyards and old houses, one of which is in the Gothic style (Number 10) and another boasts a beautiful stairway in an inner courtyard (Number 8).

Museum of Grenoble

Museum of Grenoble

One of the most prestigeous art museums in Europe and the oldest modern art museum in France.
The official Web site

Place Notre-Dame

Place Notre-Dame, Grenoble

The Notre Dame cathedral and its 13th century clock tower, the Saint Hugues church (13th century) sit on this lively square. Below ground hides the baptismal font from the 4th and 5th centuries. You can visit the ruins as part of the Museum of the Old Bishop's Palace.

The fountain of the Three Orders (1897) commemorates the pre-French Revolution events of 1788 (The Day of the Tiles) that opened the way for the Revolution.

Place sainte-Claire

Place sainte-Claire, Grenoble

Two types of structures frame this square. Rectilinear buildings from the end of the 19th century on the left and ancient houses (late 16th/early 17th century) with a magnificent Louis XIII-style door at number 4.

Halle Sainte-Claire and rue Auguste Gaché

Halle Sainte-Claire and rue Auguste Gaché, Grenoble

This covered market, built in 1874, stands on a site once occupied by the Clarisses nuns in the 15th century. From Tuesday to Sunday, a colorful market sets up shop.
The rue Auguste Gaché, with its arcade buildings and stone mezzanines, is a prime example of 1820s urbanism.

Saint Cecile convent, Former convent of the Bernadine sisters

Saint Cecile convent, Grenoble

Founded in 1624 and suppressed during the Revolution, the convent was restored in 2008 by the Glénat publishing house, which installed its headquarters here.

You'll notice the beautiful doors and the 17th century chapel.

Rue Voltaire

Rue Voltaire, Grenoble

La rue Voltaire hides several beautiful townhouses. At number 6, notice the doorway of the former Hotel of the First Parliamentary Presidency (1770) and at number 17, the facade of the chapel of the White Penitents (1657).

Place de Verdun

Place de Verdun, Grenoble

A show place during the Second Empire once known as the Place d'Armes, this square is surrounded by limestone buildings such as the Isere Prefecture, the former library-museum, and the Mountain Troops base.

Lycée Stendhal

Lycée Stendhal, Grenoble

This high school is in the location of the former Jesuit college. The honor staircase shelters a reflective sundial (1673) that is the only one of its kind in the world.

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