Grenoble, France
Etty
The thriving university city of Grenoble is situated in Southeastern France's Rhône-Alpes region, about two hours from Geneva, Switzerland and another three from Torino, Italy. Its neighborly influences are vividly apparent in the numerous fondue-prone restaurants and pizzerias that line the streets (TIP: Keep an eye out for the portable pizza-shop-in-a-trucks, whose pizzas are often cheaper and just as delicious as any of their more stationary counterparts) and the many Italian visitors and residents in the area, discernable from their French brethren only through their slightly darker complexion and proficiency in the art of hand gestures.
Because of the large student population — about one third of the city’s total 150,000 people — Grenoble is quite a lively place to be. Restaurants specialize in a diverse range of tasty international cuisine including, lest they forget us Americans, a Texas-themed pub, and the infamous discothèques seem to never run out of people. In the fall, a huge flea/antique market spreads its treasures along the banks of the Isère River which runs through the downtown; Christmastime boasts a traditional Marché de Noël, or Christmas Market, full of warmly-bundled vendors selling homemade soaps, jewelry, scarves and tasty French delicacies. On a sunny day, spend a couple Euros on the big clear bubbles (think State Fair Sky Ride + ski lift) that lead to the Bastille, an old fort that hovers above the city. A fun sight for exploration or a picnic, the Bastille also offers spectacular views of the city and breathtaking nearby mountain ranges ...
In fact, it is Grenoble’s location among these mountains that really makes the city so attractive. Although Grenoble generously provides enough attractions, shopping and food to keep any visitor fairly busy, any suitcase quite full, and any palate well satiated, it is quite frankly not the very most exciting nor beautiful of cities to visit. Were it located in the flat plains of Minnesota, I would probably not so enthusiastically recommend a visit.
However, this is not the case.
On all sides, Grenoble is surrounded the beauty of the French Alps. To the North is the Chartreuse mountain range — from which the liqueur gets its name, from which liqueur the color gets its name — to the East is the Belledonne range, to the South and West the Vercors. Each range looms magnificently over the city, casting massive shadows across valleys and villages, and promising each sunrise and sunset be the loveliest you have seen. Aside from the intense grandeur that they provide, the abundance of mountains also means fantastic snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding, or, for the truly adventurous, take a day to rent a mountain bike, or find a guide with which to try your hand at rock climbing. Better yet, just enjoy the mountain splendor by taking a gorgeous mountain hike. Depending on where you choose to go, the hikes can be pretty steep, but are well worth it for all of the more minute, hidden beauty they reveal. In late spring, enjoy the poppies, forget-me-nots and wild strawberry, or soak in the brilliantly diverse pallet of colors in the fall ...
And after the hike, end up back in Grenoble for some well-earned chocolate fondue.
Afterall, the lure of the mountains is nearly impossible to deny, but at the end of a long day, Grenoble’s city-amenities prevail.
Because of the large student population — about one third of the city’s total 150,000 people — Grenoble is quite a lively place to be. Restaurants specialize in a diverse range of tasty international cuisine including, lest they forget us Americans, a Texas-themed pub, and the infamous discothèques seem to never run out of people. In the fall, a huge flea/antique market spreads its treasures along the banks of the Isère River which runs through the downtown; Christmastime boasts a traditional Marché de Noël, or Christmas Market, full of warmly-bundled vendors selling homemade soaps, jewelry, scarves and tasty French delicacies. On a sunny day, spend a couple Euros on the big clear bubbles (think State Fair Sky Ride + ski lift) that lead to the Bastille, an old fort that hovers above the city. A fun sight for exploration or a picnic, the Bastille also offers spectacular views of the city and breathtaking nearby mountain ranges ...
In fact, it is Grenoble’s location among these mountains that really makes the city so attractive. Although Grenoble generously provides enough attractions, shopping and food to keep any visitor fairly busy, any suitcase quite full, and any palate well satiated, it is quite frankly not the very most exciting nor beautiful of cities to visit. Were it located in the flat plains of Minnesota, I would probably not so enthusiastically recommend a visit.
However, this is not the case.
On all sides, Grenoble is surrounded the beauty of the French Alps. To the North is the Chartreuse mountain range — from which the liqueur gets its name, from which liqueur the color gets its name — to the East is the Belledonne range, to the South and West the Vercors. Each range looms magnificently over the city, casting massive shadows across valleys and villages, and promising each sunrise and sunset be the loveliest you have seen. Aside from the intense grandeur that they provide, the abundance of mountains also means fantastic snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding, or, for the truly adventurous, take a day to rent a mountain bike, or find a guide with which to try your hand at rock climbing. Better yet, just enjoy the mountain splendor by taking a gorgeous mountain hike. Depending on where you choose to go, the hikes can be pretty steep, but are well worth it for all of the more minute, hidden beauty they reveal. In late spring, enjoy the poppies, forget-me-nots and wild strawberry, or soak in the brilliantly diverse pallet of colors in the fall ...
And after the hike, end up back in Grenoble for some well-earned chocolate fondue.
Afterall, the lure of the mountains is nearly impossible to deny, but at the end of a long day, Grenoble’s city-amenities prevail.