Grenoble

Grenoble is the prefecture and largest city of the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It lies where the river Drac flows into the Isère at the foot of the French Alps, and for centuries it was the capital of the historical province of Dauphiné. Its commune had 156,140 inhabitants in 2023, while the wider metropolitan area held 727,380, making it the largest metropolis in the Alps. The settlement began as the Gallic village of Cularo, was renamed Gratianopolis in 381, and became the seat of the Dauphins after the Counts of Albon chose it as their capital in the 11th century. Its economy moved from glove making through hydroelectric industry to research and technology, and it hosted the 1968 Winter Olympic Games. The city calls itself the Capital of the Alps and holds major universities and scientific institutes.