At the very foot of the French Alps is one of the most wonderful cities in France - Grenoble - the capital of the Isère department. This location contributes to the fact that the city is a favorite place of climbers who come here from many other countries of the world.. Our impressions of Grenoble.
A significant role in this is played by the climate of the area - temperate continental, where the temperature in winter does not drop below 10 degrees, and in summer it rises no higher than 35. Grenoble, according to the French writer Stendhal, is a city where each of its streets ends with access to mountain peaks.
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A little history of Grenoble
In 1968, even 10 Winter Olympic Games were held here..
The history of the formation of the city of Grenoble begins in the 3rd century, during the time of the Roman Empire, when the allobroges (representatives of the Celts) erected a settlement on the site of the present city «Kularo», which changed its name to Gratsianopol in the 4th century (named after the then ruling Roman emperor). After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city was under the rule of the Burgundian kingdoms, which lasted until 1032, until the city became part of the already Holy Roman Empire..
Teleferic of Grenoble and the French Alps
Attractions in Grenoble
And only in 1349 this land was sold to France, becoming the center of Dauphine, where it is still present, having survived, in due time, the war of France with the dukes of Savoy, Italian wars and world wars, becoming a fortress and a springboard for the defenders of the Motherland. Therefore, it is not surprising that the sights of the city of Grenoble are, first of all, a series of ancient fortifications (Bastille) on one of the mountain peaks, as well as the Grenoble Museum, which contains rare exhibits on the history of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Bastille of Grenoble
It is impossible not to mention the Museum of Archeology of Saint Laurent, located in the Church of the Benedictines, dating from the 12th century..
But the city is rich not only in military and archaeological heritage. Today it is, first of all, a scientific and university center. There are 3 universities in the city, which occupy an honorable place in the overall ranking of all universities in the world. This is:
- Technological and Medical University named after the famous French physicist and mathematician - Joseph Fourier;
- University of the Humanities and Social Sciences named after the French politician - Pierre Mendes-France;
- University named after the world famous French writer Stendhal.
It is impossible to ignore the Commissariat for Atomic Energy and the Laue-Langevin Institute, which houses a nuclear research reactor and the most powerful source of synchrotron radiation in the world..
The city of Grenoble and its collider far below
If you are interested in the miraculous sights of Grenoble, then you have a direct road to the mountains. We went to a small one-day hiking in the Alps and were very satisfied. Beautiful views, sunrise on the mountains and clouds, fresh air, it's very difficult to forget.
Where to stay in Grenoble
It is better to book hotels in Europe in advance and Grenoble is no exception, so I will recommend you Hotel Lux or Hotel de l’Europe, one is cheaper, the other is more expensive, but both are good.
We at one time selected these hotels for ourselves, so that there was where to stay. But in general, Grenoble is full of other housing, it is not a problem to find in the service.
