Grenoble is a university city in the foothills of the Alps. It is one of the main French research and technology centers. It is known primarily for the monumental Bastille standing on a hill above the city.
The history of the city begins in Roman times. Monuments from this period found during excavations can be seen in the Grenoble Museum and the Archaeological Museum. After the fall of the Roman Empire, a bishopric was established here in the 5th century. For centuries, Grenoble was an important trade and craft center, and from the 16th century it also began to play the role of a strategic point. It was then that the construction of the Bastille began, standing on a high hill above the buildings. Work on the development and modernization of the fortress lasted until the 19th century. Today it is one of the most important attractions of Grenoble.
You can get to the Bastille by walking paths and a cable car, which was built in the interwar period. The fortifications offer a great view of the city and the Alps and their highest peak, Mont Blanc. At the foot of the mountain there is a walking Dolphin Garden. A little further away is the old town with the Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, the early Christian Church of St. Lawrence, which now houses the Archaeological Museum and former city palaces.
In winter, there are several ski resorts on the slopes around Grenoble, with over 70 km of inn runs and very good ski facilities.
