The historic city is located in the south of France, at the foot of the Alps Grenoble. Together with Lyon and Saint-Étienne, they are the largest municipalities in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The city is surrounded by three mountain ranges: Chartreuse, Vercors and Belledonne. If you take the cable car from the city up to the mountain cliff of the Bastille, you will get an impressive view view of a city surrounded by imposing mountains. Grenoble is a city for sporty people and there are many students. This puts you in a vibrant city life while also walking into nature.

During our stay we were in it Okko Hotel. An affordable design hotel with a homely atmosphere and a 24 hour club where you can always get a healthy snack and something to drink at no extra cost. Tip: ask for a room on the mountain side so you wake up in the morning with a view of the mountains.

You can spend the night at the Bastille, with a view over Grenoble and the mountains, in the summer of 2022 Bivouac de la Bastille. For a small fee (€5-€10 pp) you are welcome in one of the design huts, rent a tent and sleeping bag or take your own gear along. The Bivouac was set up in connection with European Capital and is therefore temporary.

More campsites, hotels, B&Bs in the city or in nature can be found on the website Grenoble Tourism.

Because Grenoble is surrounded by nature, a lot of attention is paid to living in harmony with nature. There should be a lot of sustainable agriculture and livestock farming in the region. At these restaurants you eat sustainably, locally and naturally very well.

• Bouillion A – healthy, hip and sustainable restaurant
• Le Bouillion – an affordable restaurant where sustainable and... social aspect be at the top
• LeRousseau – Fine dining (menu €35) with local and sustainable ingredients and natural wine
• Jeanette – durable restaurant
• Le Bon Label – eco coffee
• Chez le Per Gras – on the mountain near the Bastille with a view about the city
• Brasserie Neptune – local craft beer

That Grenoble until European Green Capital was elected in 2022, is not surprising. Greenoble is surrounded by nature and the residents love all that greenery. All the more reason to give the city an even more sustainable push. Although the city is located among the high mountains, the city in itself the flattest city in France. And that makes it very suitable for cycling. With a rental bike you can cycle around the city in one day on the cycle paths or through car-free streets. During 2022 there are for gain Greenoble events various walks, conferences on sustainability and of course camping on top of the city at the Bivouac.

Because Grenoble is sheltered in the mountains with a good defense line with the Bastille, a lot of history has been preserved. The history of the city goes back 2000 years and you will find traces of all subsequent periods in the city. It Dauphinois museum in an old nunnery goes back into the history of the city. You will find it just outside the city Domaine de Vizille the museum of the French Revolution in a castle with French gardens. You can find it in the city Saint Cecile Chapel, a small art and literature museum. An old chapel has been modernly renovated with the stained glass replaced by cartoon drawings. Worth a visit. There is a cozy coffee shop on the corner Atelier Forma wherever they sell ceramics.

Grenoble is a sporty city. In the city or just outside it, you can always release your energy. If you want to be active during your stay in the city, walk the route through it Jardin des Dauphins en Parc Guy Pape to the Bastille. From the Bastille you have an amazing view of the city and the surrounding mountain ranges. In winter you can also enjoy plenty of skiing from the city. There are also direct from the city different trails that go into the mountains, mountain bike trails or even places to climb. To simply end up in the lively city again in the evening. Or leave the city behind you and continue the Isère to travel in.