Surrounded by the Chartreuse, Vercors and Belledonne mountains, Grenoble is nearly twenty-one centuries old. And to say that it is pleasant to walk around (in the city as well as in the surroundings) is an understatement: Grenoble is in fact the largest ecological city in France. In the old town, you can walk through the lively Place Grenette and Place Saint-André, as well as through the countless streets with their superb private mansions that criss-cross the district. To see more particularly: theold palace of the Parliament, the Jardin de ville, with the Trésor tower, and the old Lesdiguières hotel, the collegiate church of Saint-André, the "Bishopric-Cathedral" group (12th-13th centuries), which includes the Notre-Dame cathedral, the church of Saint-Hugues, the vestiges of the baptistry and the bishop's palace. Finally, a little further south of the old city, take a look at the Place de Verdun and the prefecture (19th century). On the other side of the Isère, the Saint-Laurent district is essentially touristy. There you will find the Saint-Laurent gate and the gate of France, which became the city's war memorial, the old Saint-Laurent church (13th century) and the current archaeological museum. Go to the Bastille fort, on foot or by cable car. Of course, this presentation is only succinct, so many things are to be discovered in this superb city (it is also a great place for street art, as shown by its festival), where Stendhal comes from, that a tourist guide on Grenoble will not fail to make you discover.
When to go to Grenoble ? All year round, the capital of the Dauphiné region can be visited and does not lack charm. The winter, although rigorous, will allow you to combine discovery of the city and skiing in its close surroundings. But if winter sports are not your cup of tea, you should prefer the intermediate seasons (spring and autumn): the weather is pleasant. Indeed, Grenoble is often very hot in July and August.
However, many events punctuate the life of Grenoble throughout the year, and these festivities can also serve as an excuse for a stay in the city: Street Art Festival, Humor Festival..
Because of Grenoble's position, the city is subject to different climates. Indeed, although the altitude is rather low (about 200 m), the city is located in the heart of the Alps and benefits from an alpine type of climate. However, Atlantic, continental and Mediterranean influences are also felt. Thus, there is heavy rainfall in spring and autumn, and more sunshine than in Toulouse. Temperatures, often negative in winter, exceed 28-29°C in summer.
