La Bastille de Grenoble
La Bastille : A stronghold in the heart of the people of Grenoble
Whether you get there on foot, by cable car, via ferrata or even by car, the Bastille is a veritable "mountain in the city" accessible to all, in all seasons.
A stone's throw from the hypercentre of Grenoble, this fortified area was built in 1592 by Lesdiguières to defend the city from a potential enemy who may have come from the Chartreuse massif. Listed as a historical monument, Fort de la Bastille has become for the inhabitants of the agglomeration a privileged place of inspiration, an air bubble that travels through a preserved natural area of 25 hectares. Come and admire an exceptional panorama which opens at 360 ° on a cirque of three alpine valleys: Chartreuse, Belledonne, Vercors, up to the legendary summit of Mont Blanc. And why not rewrite the history of the city by detailing the squares and districts of the historic center to the limits of the urban area ? “I can’t describe the admirable view, changing every hundred steps, that we have from the Bastille…”. It is with these words that Stendhal pays homage to this place.
To get there, board one of the world's first urban cable cars after Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town. Departing from the city garden, soar above the Isère and the rooftops for a drop of 266 meters aboard the "Bulles" of Grenoble.
And then the Bastille is not only a place for contemplation, it is also a place of culture and sport that is lively throughout the year. Curious minds, gourmets and other lovers of bucolic strolls or thrills, all visitors find their happiness here.
A green oasis to fill up on curiosities and adrenaline
Along the paths to access the fortress, you will explore the ancient ramparts, casemates, bastions, vertiginous staircases, shooting locations and contemplate from the many terraces of the fort, the town and the Alpine landscape that surrounds it, from a different perspective every time. During your guided tour, also discover areas inaccessible to the general public. You will enter the “casemated rider” and its vaults which housed the cannons and will walk through the surprising underground of the fort, dug over several hundred meters in the rock.
Bring a flashlight and continue your walk in the caves of the smuggler Mandrin, a landmark fashioned 100 years later to defend the Fort de la Bastille from Savoy attacks from the north.
The Bastille is of historical and cultural interest as well as naturalist and wine-growing.
Classified as a Natural Zone of Ecological Faunistic and Floristic Interest (ZNIEFF) and recognized as a reservoir of biodiversity by the Regional Scheme of Ecological Coherence (SRCE), the Bastille site is a hill that hosts many plant and animal species that benefit equally well of the diversity of the environments as of the southern exposure of the slope. A tinted mosaic landscape with a large forest area on limestone terrain. The Grenoble area is reminiscent of an immense glacier overflowing on the surrounding mountains, or if we go further back, a warm sea bordered by its coral reefs ... an ideal vantage point for discovering the geological history of the region with Mediterranean influences.
And then at the Bastille, you can hear the cicadas and crickets in great numbers, the song of the melodious locust and the duettist, recognize the shrill sound of the large green grasshopper and follow a multitude of butterflies, in particular Zygène Gobert which is only located at Mont Rachais at 1046 m above the Bastille. And you can also go to the discovery of birds including the peregrine falcon or smaller species such as the newt in the ditch pond. Finally, come and meet the herd of goats and sheep which discreetly survey certain meadows and ditches of the Bastille. In the presence of the shepherds, you will be able to approach them closely!
Many cultural and sporting activities are also offered throughout the year. Head to the Musée des Troupes de Montagne de Grenoble, which traces the adventure of mountain soldiers from the creation of this corps in 1988 to the present day. 200 meters higher, on Mount Jalla and easily accessible by a footpath, you can continue this visit by the Memorial of these soldiers who fell on the battlefield. A site combining both sobriety and flight.
As for temporary exhibitions, the Bastille Art Center (CAB) will welcome you within the fortifications to discover contemporary French and international artists, but also to regular small and cosy concerts.
For the more intrepid, the via ferrata follows a route that climbs along the rocky buttresses to exit on the ramparts of the Bastille (Safety equipment required). Without forgetting the Acrobastille which offers the youngest (from 4 years old) aerial and acrobatic courses in ditches and fortifications. Sporting routes to which can be added marked hiking trails and a multitude of events: orienteering, treasure hunts, treasure hunts, hiking and cycling races.
At any time, you can eat at La Salle des Gardes to eat a homemade snack or enjoy the 230 m² panoramic terrace of the O2 brasserie, which will offer you refined cuisine for small and large tables. For lovers of gastronomy and local produce, the team at Chez le Pèr’Gras will introduce you to tasting the famous gratin dauphinois and other legendary dishes that have made the reputation of this restaurant, which has been open for 124 years. There, at the top of the Bastille!
City Lights
As you descend along the slopes of the Bastille, along marked trails, you will come across the Saint-Laurent archaeological Museum but also the superb buildings of a former convent, now the Dauphinois Museum. Down the Bastille, life is good. The softness of the riverbanks of the Isère by kayak or from the banks animated by the terraces of bars and restaurants will open the doors to the historic center of Grenoble. On the other side of the bridge, cycle through the heart of the city or stroll on foot through the shopping streets, lively squares and unusual places. Take a break in the Jardin de Ville in the shade of the hundred-year-old plane trees, a stone's throw from Stendhal's native apartment and continue in the nearby museums: The Museum of Fine Arts and Antiquities of Grenoble, the Ancien Evêché’s Museum among others.
In a few minutes, the bubbles of Grenoble transport you from the old center to the heights of Fort de la Bastille. Our suggestion: "Go there at dusk to admire the view at sunset when it gives way to the city lights".
Practical information to come to the Bastille in Grenoble
Opening
Grenoble cable car :
Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Closed monday
Annual closing in January.
Prices
Free access to the Fort de la Bastille
Grenoble cable car :
One way ticket for an adult: € 5.90
Adult return ticket: € 8.80
One way ticket for a child: 3.30 € (Child rate from 5 to 15 years old)
Child return ticket: € 4.70 (Child rate from 5 to 15 years old).
Group rate from 15 people.
Address
Quai Stéphane Jay, 38000 Grenoble
Access
Access to the Bastille directly by road:
From La Tronche Town Hall, take the only access road indicated.
At the top is free parking.
Further information
Adapted tourism: Accessible for independent wheelchairs, Lift (80 x 130 cm) and door> = 77 cm, WC + grab bar + circulation space.
Contact
Phone. : 04 76 44 33 65
Email: info (at) bastille-grenoble.com
