Grenoble's culinary specialities

The Place aux Herbes Market and the Hébert Market must be on the programme of your visits to Grenoble. Here you'll find seasonal produce that you can use to concoct tasty culinary specialities. First and foremost, there's the authentic gratin dauphinois, with its unique flavour when the melting potatoes are served with poultry or fish. Your mouth will also be watering as you patiently prepare chards à la voironnaise, a delicious vegetable speciality! As an aperitif or dessert, the locals can't get enough of Grenoble walnuts, which are also used to make a delicious cake in many patisseries. If you'd like to take off your apron for dinner, you'll find other memorable culinary discoveries in one of the city's typical bistros. You could, for example, choose a beef snout salad followed by a pig shank in stock! Even more refined recipes may catch your eye when you lunch in a Michelin-starred restaurant. As a starter, it's hard to resist Ravioles de sanglier confit aux cèpes (wild boar ravioli confit with porcini mushrooms), and as for the meat, you're sure to love the Ris de veau à la chicorée, écrasé de légumes racines (veal sweetbreads with chicory and crushed root vegetables), cooked by a renowned chef. As a digestive, there's nothing better than a small glass of chartreuse, an appellation that designates prestigious spirits.

Visits and leisure activities in Grenoble

With a full stomach, it's a real pleasure to cycle along the banks of the Isère. This quintessential family activity will take you past walnut dryers and through fascinating scenery. Other sites await you around Grenoble, such as the Fort du Saint Eynard, with its magical panorama of the surrounding mountains. Any self-respecting traveller will also want to take the funicular railway to Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, which links Lumbin and the village of Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet! It's another way to contemplate the attractive landscape of the Grenoble region. The region also boasts a wealth of cultural attractions. The Museum of the Resistance and Deportation is one of the highlights, playing a key role in France's efforts to remember the past. The Natural History Museum's collections of fossils, minerals and ethnological artefacts are also well worth a visit during your holiday. You might also spot the 56-metre-high bell tower as you stroll through the town. The Collégiale Saint-André is not Grenoble's main tourist attraction, but it's still well worth a visit! Its remarkable stained-glass windows behind a beautifully decorated high altar are a special feature of this place of meditation.

Must-see sites around Grenoble

Grenoble's geographical location encourages many of its residents to try their hand at board sports. They flock to the Oz or the Alpe d'Huez, for example, and hit the snowy slopes with family and friends. Other exceptional places around Grenoble include the Parc National des Ecrins. It offers a gargantuan playground for hikers and rock-climbers alike!