FRANCE – Grenoble (En)

Grenoble is a city of about 150.000 inhabitants, and it is the second largest in the region of Auvernia-Ródano-Alpes, the first is Lyon. sits at the foot of mountains between the Drac and Isère rivers. It’s known for its museums, universities and research centres. Spherical cable cars called “Les Bulles” (Bubbles) connect the town to the summit of La Bastille hill, named for the 18th-century fortress on its slopes.

We stayed at Camping Les Trois Pucelles (45.166599, 5.69853 lat, long) on the city’s outskirts. The camping is ok and the owners are very friendly and helpful, giving us maps and info about what to see in the city. It has a little swimming pool, good facilities and washing machines. The plots are big and in the shade. The only thing is that the showers have a button that you must keep pressing and cannot hang up. In high season we paid 24,50 euros per day including electricity. It is a 5-minute walk to the tram to go to the city centre.

We took the tram to the city centre and the first thing we saw was a church now used for expositions, then we went to Grenette Square, the main square since the grain and livestock markets took place in the 17th century. Do not miss the beautiful stone fountain, featuring winged genies riding dolphins.

After that, we saw the St Louis Church consecrated in 1699 and where opposite it there are two buildings called “Elephants”, built after 1900, and characteristic of artificial stone architecture. Apart from the ground floor, the facades are all made from cast cement, even the bricks aren’t real! Next to them, you find the Victor Hugo Square created in 1885 which quickly became the town’s new elegant centre and still has its original chestnut trees and late 19th-century facades.

We returned to Grenette Square to have lunch as it is surrounded by restaurants. We had the plate of the day for 14 euros each, I had pork roast with a caramelized onion sauce and Ben had a steak with pepper sauce, both delicious!

After lunch, we went to see de Ville Garden, previously a private garden of the Dukes of Lesdiguieres which became a public garden in 1719. Nearby the French-style flowerbeds is the old Hotel de Lesdiegueres, built between 1600 and 1650. It was the Town Hall between 1719 and 1967 and now houses the Maison de l’international. Next to the garden, you find the cable car “Bulles” (Bubbles) which was built in 1934 and with which you can go up to the Bastille fortress, we did not take it because there was an impressive queue of people! However, the views are incredible, especially walking along the Quai Stephane Jay where we saw the beautiful coloured houses in front of the Chartreuse Mountain.

Next, we went to Gordes Square, a picturesque square in the old town, created in 1791 where you can find the Saint Andre Collegiate Church built using bricks which was started in 1228. And to Saint Andre Square, bordered by the old Palace of Parlament with its Gothic and Renaissance facades.

The next stop was the Saint Laurent footbridge built in 1837 and modernised in 1909, it is at the site of the town’s first medieval bridge destroyed by floods on the Isere River, where we took photos of the amazing views.

Then we went to see Notre Dame Square, where you will find the Notre Dame Cathedral and its tour-porche (13th cent), the Saint Hugues Church same century, the Baptistry and the Fountain des Trois Ordres. We passed through the Sainte-Claire Square with two types of buildings, rectilinear buildings of the late 19th century on the left, and old houses late 16th century on the right. Near you find a market hall built in 1874 which is home to a colourful market.

The next thing we saw was the Saint Cecile Convent founded in 1624 and abolished during the French Revolution, it was restored in 2008 with elegant gateways and the 17th-century chapel. We finished our tour of Grenoble in Verdun Square where the imperial power was represented under the Second Empire, surrounded by limestone block buildings such as the Prefecture, the old Museum-Library and the Mountain Troops Building.

We decided that our next stop will be in Macon, a city in the Burgundy region that focuses on art, archaeological excavations and local urban history and which you can see in the next post!