Filed under: Travel pieces | Tags: Capital of the Alps, Grenoble, Roman Ruins in France, the Rhone Alps, travel piece
A gorgeous autumn day – 20c, 70f – a drive in a southeasterly direction through green fields, grand mountains, classical French farmhouses with red roofs, concrete walks, flat-fronts and long shutter windows. As we get nearer to Grenoble, the “Capital of the Alps,” there are the intermittent Roman ruins one can see in the hills and scattered across the countryside.
The city, itself, is lovely – reminiscent of Paris, Madrid, or any continental city with its winding cobblestone streets that seem like a labyrinth. Friendlier though, and artistic in ‘vibe.’ Less dirty. Large, pedestrians-only areas full of small shops selling everything from stationary to hardware to accessories. Too many shoe stores and tobacco sellers to count. Many little coffee shops and restaurants with lots of outdoor seating. Peppered steak and frites at a bistro that promptly closes at 2pm. Bars with people standing out front smoking and having small beers. Hidden little squares and parks with fountains. A river runs down one side of the city. Flat-fronted buildings with small turrets and gardens atop them, small terraces and long, shuttered windows on the river. Above are gondolas going into the Alps that border the city and that look like little balls (and are, in fact, called balls in French). A Roman castle sits overlooking the center of town, evidence of the passing of time.
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Victoria Jelinek 
After reading the review I really want to go to Grenoble. It was never on my radar before but now its firmly in my plans for future travel!
Comment by Paddy September 27, 2010 @ 11:07 amThe passage conveys a wonderful sense of a city
Comment by Barbara Fincher September 27, 2010 @ 4:47 pmI really knew nothing about Grenoble, but it’s “the Capital
of the Alps”! I like the photo which accompanies it,too, those little gondola “balls” crossing blue,
blue water, the mountains in the background.
ahhhh……my kind of city…tobacco and shoes stores everywhere?!?!? i didn’t know it was roman either. i’ll have to go and check it out!!
Comment by tasha September 27, 2010 @ 4:59 pmI so want to got there now and walk those cobbled streets and enjoy a coffee as the world goes by…
Comment by Dee September 27, 2010 @ 7:26 pmSounds like an incredible city. More pictures please.
Comment by JR September 28, 2010 @ 3:53 amBased on the scene you have painted, I now include Grenoble in my ‘Must Visit’ list– thank you for such a colorful portrait of a city I’ve never thought of before…
Comment by Simonthelion October 13, 2010 @ 10:36 pm