Grenoble (France): a story about the city and its sights

Grenoble (France) is an ancient city, founded about two thousand years ago. At the very beginning of its existence, this town was called Cularo and was a small settlement. But over time, he grew up in a stunning modern city, whose population exceeds 150 thousand people. Today Grenoble boasts magnificent sights and a splendid cultural and historical heritage. Here is a dozen museums, including the Stendhal Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Crypt Saint Laurent, the world famous university and many other architectural objects.

A little about the city

The city of Grenoble, France, is unofficially called the capital of the French Alps, as it is very close to the mountains. But at the same time it is considered the most flat on the European continent. The settlement is located at the confluence of the Drak and Izer rivers, it is surrounded by mountain peaks, but, despite this fact, the landscape of Grenoble does not look like hilly even remotely. Here the ancient architecture harmoniously coexists with the modern. And the same city is considered the university center of the country.

Grenoble (France) is a popular and famous city. Here was born Stendhal himself, and the local population is incredibly proud of this fact. In 1968, when the settlement became the Capital of the Winter Olympics, he became famous for the whole planet. It is also interesting that a number of events in the sensational novel "Perfume" takes place precisely in Grenoble.

Brief historical information

In the first century BC in the place where the city of Grenoble (France) is today, arose the first fortified settlement, called Cularo. Its founder was the tribe Allobrog. And in the third century AD, the settlement was given the status of a city. In 381 he was named Grazianopolis for the honor of one of the Roman emperors. But as a result of linguistic changes the name Grazianopolis was transformed into the modern name Grenoble. During its long history of existence, the settlement was also part of the feudal formation of Dauphine and in the kingdom of Provence. It was in Grenoble that the French Revolution began, which drastically changed the history of not only the city itself, but the entire country. That's why French Grenoble is rightly called a landmark city.

The city's attractions

Grenoble (France), whose sights are known to travelers all over the world, has placed on its expanses the fortress of Bastille. In the XVI century on the site of the object was a defensive structure. Its modern appearance Bastille found only in the XIX century. Today the fortress is only a sightseeing object.

A popular tourist attraction is the cable car. It connects the Bastille with the historical center of the city. In 1934 a funicular was built, the booths of which were similar to a dune and could transport about 15 people at the same time. In 1976, when the cable car found its present appearance, it became also a city symbol.

Another local attraction, which all tourists try to see, are three multi-storey tower houses. They were erected at the beginning of the 1968 Olympics. Despite the fact that the structure was built in the middle of the last century, it is still quite modern today.

Three-in-One University

The University of Grenoble (France) consists of three independent higher educational institutions. Grenoble University I, bearing the name of Joseph Fourier, has ten faculties, an advanced training department for teachers, the Grenoble Astrophysical Observatory and other research institutions.

Grenoble University II, named for Pierre Mendes-France, consists of four research and educational faculties, three polytechnic institutes, two technological institutes and other universities.

Grenoble University III. Stendhal's are five science and education faculties, the Department of Information Technology, the French Language Center, the House of Cultures and Languages and other scientific institutions.

The university itself was opened in 1339 by Count Humbert II Dauphin and was then only of five faculties. The history of the educational institution is full of adventures. It was then closed, then opened, then renamed. At today's three independent educational facilities the university was divided in 1970.

Culinary City

Cooking industry - this is another element, which lives Grenoble. France, in general, is famous for its culinary delights. Culinary delicacies Grenoble cooks generously season with various herbs, because here they grow in huge quantities. In this city there was a famous dish, which is a potato soaked in a dairy sauce and baked under cream in the oven. And only in this region of France produce a popular blue cheese.

These dishes are in the best way in harmony with the stunning drink La Chartreuse 50-degree fortress. You can try masterpieces of local gastronomy in numerous drinking establishments, which are many here. There are here both modest brasseries, and fashionable gourmet restaurants.