French writer and Grenoble native Stendhal best summed up the city of Grenoble when he wrote “At the end of every street, a mountain”.

Nicknamed the ‘Capital of the Alps’, the lively capital of Isère is surrounded by the mountains of Belledonne, Vercors and Chartreuse. But winter visitors often whizz through on their way to the slopes thereby missing out on everything that Grenoble has to offer. It is well worth spending a night or two in the city before heading for either the Vercors or Belledonne mountains and enjoying a unique city-ski break.

Grenoble
Dynamic Grenoble is an easy place to spend a day or two. A famous university city, Grenoble is also fast becoming a hotspot for tech companies with some calling it “France’s Silicon Valley”. The result is an exciting city packed full of restaurants and bars alongside its many activities and storied history.

Follow the path of Stendhal, author of The Red and The Black, through the city streets, gardens and squares of the Vieux Quartier, where little has changed over the centuries. Place Grenette has been the town’s main square since the 17th century. Nearby is Gant Lesdiguieres, the sole surviving artisan glove maker left in the city. Grenoble is the former glove-making capital of France and Gant Lesdiguieres was founded in 1885.

Later, climb up to the 19th-century Bastille fortress on foot, by bike or riding in the city’s iconic “Bulles”. The “bubble” cable car was among the world’s first cable cars, established in 1934.

Grenoble is also home to an exciting foodie scene. The region is famous for its walnuts - in 1938 the Grenoble walnut became the first fruit in the world to receive an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) - the Tourte de l’Isère (Isère Pie) and Les ravioles du Royans. Ravioles have been deeply rooted in the culture, terroir and traditional skills of the Dauphiné region since the 15th century. Enjoy these dishes and more at one of the many Grenoble restaurants including Café de La Table Ronde, the second oldest cafe in France.

The Vercors

One of the most beautiful corners of France is also one of the most underrated, the majestic limestone massif of the Vercors. This expanse of forested mountains is home to Villard-de-Lans / Correncon-en-Vercors, the largest and highest Alpine ski area in the Vercors with 125 km of runs to suit all abilities. It is particularly well suited to families but also boasts challenging black runs, mogul fields, powder slopes, and forest trails.

Away from the piste Villard-Correncon has a wide range of activities, everything from cani-balade (dog trekking) and snowshoeing through the forest in search of winter wildlife to fondue picnics in the forest and a new illuminated night time cross-country route in Bois Barbu.

Belledonne

The largest ski area in the Belledonne massif is Les 7 Laux an exciting ski destination with something for everyone: a HO5 snowpark, secure off-piste areas such as the challenging Vallons du Pra, dedicated family trails, and two Nordic ski sites. Apres-ski activities include snake-gliss sledging and a brand new four-season luge track.

The birthplace of French skiing since 1878 and the site of the 1968 Olympic Games, Chamrousse is just 30 km from Grenoble. With 90 km of downhills runs and 40 km of Nordic ski runs, it can easily be visited as a day trip from Grenoble.

The family resort of Le Collet d’Allevard is home to spellbinding views of Mont-Blanc, the Bauges, Chartreuse and Vercors. The ski-in/ski-out resort is renowned for its family atmosphere with plenty of activities and facilities for children. The varied ski area, with its price forests and vast expanses, has one of the largest night skiing areas in Europe.