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Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, situated at the foot
of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located
in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the
department of Isère. The proximity of the mountains has led to
the city being known as the "Capital of Alps". Grenoble's
history encompasses a period of more than 2,000 years, and the
city has been the capital of the Dauphiné since the 11th century.
Grenoble experienced a period of economic expansion in the
nineteenth and 20th centuries, which is symbolized by the
holding of the X Olympic Winter Games in 1968. The city is now a
significant scientific center in Europe. The population of the
city (commune) of Grenoble at the 2006 census was 156,107
inhabitants. The population of the Grenoble urban unit at the
2006 census was 427,659 inhabitants. The population of the
Grenoble metropolitan area (French: aire urbaine de Grenoble) at
the 2006 census was 531,440 inhabitants. The residents of the
city are called "Grenoblois". Among the numerous communes that
make up Grenoble are the city's largest suburbs,
Saint-Martin-d'Hères, Échirolles, and Fontaine, each with a
population exceeding 20,000 inhabitants. Grenoble is surrounded
by mountains. To the north lies the Chartreuse, to the south and
west the Vercors, and to the east the Belledonne range. For the
French, Grenoble is the capital of the Alps. Grenoble is
exclusively built on the alluvial plain of the Isère River and
the Drac River at an altitude of 214 metres (702 ft). Mountain
sports are an important tourist attraction for the city, both in
summer and in winter. Twenty large and small ski stations
surround the city, the nearest being Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse,
which is about a 15 minute drive away. Historically, both
Grenoble and the surrounding areas were sites of mining and
heavy industry. Abandoned mills and factories can be found in
small towns and villages, such as the coal mine at La Mure. |
