Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Grenoble, France

Located on the Drac and Isère Rivers, Grenoble is a contemporary city renowned for its scientific advancements, surrounded by the majestic mountains of France’s Northern Alps.

To the north lies the formidable Bastille, marking the beginning of the Chartreuse mountain range, while the imposing cliffs of the Vercors Massif loom to the west.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Grenoble offers a plethora of scenic walks leading to nearby lakes, forests, and alpine meadows.

During the winter months, ski resorts are reachable within an hour’s drive.

The city itself features numerous complimentary museums that invite exploration of its rich history, which dates back to pre-Roman times.

Let us examine the most notable attractions in Grenoble:

1. Musée de Grenoble

This elegant, modern structure is undoubtedly the ideal starting point for your visit to Grenoble.

It ranks among France’s foremost art museums, housing 57 galleries that collectively showcase a collection of 1,500 pieces.

One can gain a comprehensive overview of European cultural history from the 1200s to the present within these galleries.

Included are works by prominent French, Spanish, Dutch, Flemish, and Italian masters from the 17th century.

However, the museum truly shines in its 20th-century sections, where significant artistic movements, from Fauvism to Pop Art, are prominently displayed.

Notable artists such as Chagall, Picasso, Magritte, Paul Klee, Georgs Grosz, and Joan Miró feature among the exhibited works.

2. Cable Car

Situated on the left bank of the Isère River, the cable car station offers transportation that ascends 263 meters to the Bastille, the name given to both the fortress and the rocky hill dominating the city from the north.

This cable car has been operational since 1935, undergoing a design renovation in the 1970s, when its current space-age gondolas were introduced.

Each gondola accommodates up to six passengers, and for those who may be apprehensive regarding enclosed spaces, they will transport you to the summit in a mere four minutes.

The round trip costs only €8 for adults, and the panoramic views as you ascend from the river are remarkable.

3. Bastille

While the cable car provides one means of ascent, many prefer the path and staircase that begin at the cliffside in Jardin des Dauphins.

During the ascent, one can explore the remnants of ancient walls and stairways that belong to the historic fortress.

Upon reaching the summit, you will encounter a complex of impressive walls constructed in the 19th century by General Haxo, situated upon the remnants of two earlier fortifications dating back to the 1500s.

Below you, Grenoble unfolds like a map, and it is particularly gratifying to follow the wide Cours Jean Jaurès as it stretches steadily into the horizon.

The fortifications were designed to protect against threats from the mountainous regions to the north, not from the city itself.

4. Archaeological Museum

The most engaging archaeology museums are those that place visitors directly atop active excavations, and Grenoble’s museum achieves this by offering galleries overlooking a Gallo-Roman church constructed in the 6th century.

TThese remains lie partly beneath a later Romanesque church still located on the site (with its floor removed), while the portion outside this more recent church is sheltered from the elements by a glass and steel canopy.

The highlight is the mausoleum dating back to 521 AD, and the positioning of numerous artifacts discovered during excavations (such as coins, pottery, stone epitaphs, glassware, and everyday items) is especially noteworthy as they provide context for visitors.

5. Dauphinois Museum

Not far from the Archaeology Museum, on the right bank of the Isère, this charming attraction reveals the history and culture of the Dauphiné Region.

Its delightful setting, located on the lower slopes of the Bastille within a 17th-century convent known as the Visitation de Sainte-Marie-d’en-Haut, enhances the experience.

The beautifully designed cloister, garden, and baroque interiors, highlighted by the exquisite ceiling in the chapel, captivate visitors’ imaginations.

In the exhibition areas, one will find a room dedicated to the history of skiing in the French Alps, as well as displays of 18th-century Alpine dwellings furnished with period-appropriate items.

A spacious area for temporary exhibitions is regularly updated, ensuring visitors may encounter unique displays with each visit.

6. Musée de l’Ancien Évêché

Housed within Grenoble’s historic Episcopal Palace, this complimentary museum provides insight into the history of the surrounding Isère Department.

As is the case with many attractions in Grenoble, the architecture plays a significant role, as the basement features remnants of the city’s Gallo-Roman wall and the remains of an early-Christian baptistery.

Visitors traverse raised walkways that cross over these historical artifacts, with drawings illustrating how they would have appeared in their time.

Ascending through the museum, each level represents a different period in history; the first floor features galleries dedicated to the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Gallo-Roman era, adorned with authentic artifacts.

The second floor covers the Middle Ages, early modern period, and the Enlightenment.

7. Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation

The Vercors Massif adjacent to Grenoble served as a significant center for resistance activities during the Second World War.

In Méaudre, situated not far from the city, various Resistance networks convened for a crucial meeting in January 1944. The museum effectively utilizes propaganda posters, leaflets, forged identifications, and mapping to detail the involvement of local figures in sabotage efforts under the Vichy regime.

Additionally, a broader examination of life in this area during the occupation is presented, encompassing the internment and deportation of Jewish citizens, other minorities, and political dissidents.

The second level features sound and visual experiences that recreate different environments, such as a cafe with hushed conversations and Marie Reynouard’s apartment, where the Grenoble resistance was originally established in 1941.

8. Winter Sport

In 1968, Grenoble proudly hosted the Winter Olympics and is conveniently located within a comfortable distance from an array of ski resorts.

Visitors can easily base themselves in the city and embark on day trips to enjoy the slopes.

Among the best resorts is Seven Laux, situated 45 kilometers northeast of Grenoble, boasting 120 kilometers of slopes.

Recently renovated, it features an updated snow park, HO5, perfect for snowboarders and freestyle skiers looking to showcase their skills on its boarder-cross ice racing track.

Approximately the same distance to the west is Autrans, located in the Vercors Massif.

This resort focuses on cross-country skiing, offering over 160 kilometers of Nordic-style trails.

For those interested in dog-sledding, this destination is particularly recommended.

9. Alpine Lakes

During the summer months, ski resorts serve as gateways to the region’s natural wonders, which are even more enchanting when devoid of snow.

At nearly 2,000 meters elevation, Lac Achard is glacial in nature, freezing over with a layer of snow in winter. However, during summer, the spectacular cirque that envelops it reflects beautifully in its tree-lined waters.

Accessible via the GR-549, the walk from Chamrousse is both straightforward and picturesque.

On the same route, you can also explore Les Lacs Robert, set within a rugged, treeless landscape characterized by needle-like peaks and meadows.

If this hike proves too strenuous, the ski lift is available to ease the journey, dropping visitors right by the southeastern shore.

10. Vercors Massif

Grenoble serves as an excellent base for an unforgettable hiking experience in the Vercors Massif, which ominously dominates the skyline to the west.

The region showcases a series of elevated plateaus interspersed with dramatic rocky barriers. This topography not only fosters exceptional cross-country skiing during winter but also transforms into a hiker’s paradise in milder seasons.

The trails wind through gentle terrains cloaked in beech and pine forests, with breathtaking natural landmarks such as 300-meter cliffs and the Coufin Cave near Choranche.

In the meadows, visitors will encounter dairy farms producing the region’s distinctive cheese, Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage.

11. Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Grenoble

With a collection of 1.5 million specimens and various exhibits, this natural history museum is sure to captivate enthusiasts for hours.

The museum highlights the diverse natural heritage of the French Alps, featuring departments dedicated to geology, ethnology, botany, and zoology.

Visitors are immediately struck by the impressive lobby, which showcases a massive amethyst geode standing over a meter tall and weighing half a ton.

The ground floor features aquariums, while the upper level includes a somewhat nostalgic gallery filled with taxidermy specimens in settings that mimic their native habitats.

Additionally, the charming botanic garden outdoors boasts an interesting historical feature: the very first concrete bridge, constructed in 1855, crosses a quaint stream.

12. Paul Mistral Park

Following the fortification of the Bastille by General Haxo, this central space within the city was converted into a military training ground until the 1920s.

In the early 1900s, Mayor Paul Mistral proposed the removal of the ramparts encircling Grenoble to create a park that would exemplify the city’s progressive vision as part of the International Exhibition of Hydropower and Tourism in 1925. This led to the construction of several avant-garde structures, of which only the 100-meter-high Perret Tower remains.

This tower is notable as Europe’s first constructed from reinforced concrete. Although it currently sits abandoned, efforts are underway to restore it for public access in the future.

13. Funiculaire de Saint-Hilaire du Touvet

Until the 1920s, Saint-Hilaire lacked a road suitable for vehicular access; the village perches atop a stunning natural balcony on the southeastern flank of the Chartreuse Range.

However, in 1924, with the establishment of several sanatoriums catering to tuberculosis patients, this scenic funicular railway was inaugurated, ascending the steep gradient (with inclines reaching up to 83%) from the Grésivaudan Valley.

The ride is thrilling yet somewhat nerve-wracking, covering a distance of 1.5 kilometers, while also showcasing remarkable engineering from the 1920s.

Ideally, choose a clear day to enjoy a picnic while taking in the stunning scenery, and don’t miss watching the adventurous souls hang gliding from the cliffs above.

14. Musée Hydrelec

Located in the Oisans region, 50 kilometers east of Grenoble, this museum provides insights into the history of hydroelectric power in this region of France.

It stands as the sole museum in the country devoted to this subject, detailing the engineers, scientists, and transformative projects that established hydroelectric power in the early 20th century.

Exhibits include a penstock, a valve, voltmeters, a turbine, and a generator, providing visitors a comprehensive understanding of the machinery utilized in hydroelectric facilities.

15. Gastronomy

As previously noted, Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage is a creamy cheese produced in the highlands to the west of Grenoble.

This AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) cheese is exclusively made from milk sourced from local cow breeds such as Villard, Abondance, or Montbéliarde.

Ravioles du Royans reflect a historical Italian culinary influence in Grenoble, comprising wheat ravioli filled with cheese and finely chopped parsley.

Lastly, the region is rich in walnuts, with the surrounding countryside yielding an impressive 15,000 tons annually.

These walnuts are integral to countless culinary creations, including salads, breads, wines, cheeses, and desserts.