Grenoble

Location

Grenoble is a city and commune in south-east situated at the foot of the Alps where the Drac joins the Isère River. Located in the Rhône-Alpes région, Grenoble is the prefecture (capital) of the department of Isère. The population of the city (commune) of Grenoble at the 2005 census was 157,900 inhabitants.

Geography

Grenoble is surrounded by mountains: to the north are the Chartreuse, to the west are the Vercors, and to the east are the Belledonne range. As such, it is often visited by the Tour de France and has been called the "capital of the Alps".

The city is mainly built on the alluvial plain of the River Isere at an altitude of around 214 meters. Mountain sports are an important tourist draw for the city. Twenty ski stations surround the city, the nearest being Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse, which is about 15 minutes drive away.

Economy

Property prices in Grenoble are high, but you definitely get what you pay for! The town is a superb place to live in or to spend holidays and as the rental market is strong, an investment in Grenoble property is usually sound. Moreover the Alps attract a huge number of winter and summer vacationers. And many of the best known ski resorts are located nearby. Grenoble today has a thriving economy, rooted in industry and commerce, in science and tourism. The city attracts also many successful businesses.

Transport

Grenoble can be accessed by plane from Saint-Exupéry International Airport near Lyon, Geneva Cointrin International Airport, or Grenoble-Isère Airport. Within Grenoble there is a comprehensive bus and tram service, run by Semitag. It operates 26 bus lines and 3 tram lines, serving all of greater Grenoble.

Main Sights

The Bastille, an ancient series of fortifications, sits on the mountainside overlooking Grenoble, and is visible from many points in the city. The Bastille is one of Grenoble's most visited tourist attractions, and is a good vantage point for viewing the town below and the surrounding mountains.

Grenoble is famous for its walnuts, for which it enjoys an appelation of controlled origin. The town is also famous for manufacturing of gloves, for which an innovative technique was introduced in XIX century.

It’s also famous for many nearby ski resorts nestled in the surrounding mountains, and its Italian quarter, the "Quartier Saint Laurent".

It is also the home of a rugby union team FC Grenoble, a football team Grenoble Foot 38, and an ice hockey team