Grenoble Things to Do

Lycée Champollion ( = college), named after Grenoble born Champollion, who first deciphered the hieroglyphs, was began to build in 1882 on a 28,000 square meters lot spread between the old fortifications and the new district build around the railway station.

Most of the Roman wall of Gratianopolis still exists but is completely hidden as it is included in houses and forms a wall for the ground level, holding several stories of housing. Several towers still exist but can hardly be seen in the entanglement of old houses in the very city center. When streets have been open, it has disappeared and its memories remains thanks to iron nails sealed in the ground

The Roman wall of Gratianopolis was made with a core of reused stones and covered with adjusted free stone. Most of the cover of free stones has disappeared along the centuries but though unimpressive, the old core is still very strong, thanks to the quality of the concrete used by the Romans

The Roman wall was built between 286 and 293 AD by order of Emperors Diocletian and Maximilian around the new city of Gratianopolis that replaced the old Cularo. The wall was 8 meters high and was elliptic. It was defended by about 40 half cylindrical towers. Two entrances "Porte Traine" and "Porte Viennoise" gave access to the city.

Grenoble has been often flooded in the past. The last major flood was on 2 November 1859 flood when water raised to 1.80 meters in some places. You can see nails sealed on several houses that show the level reached. Here, at the corner of Rue Jean-Jascques Rousseau and of Grand Rue, the level was about 1 meter

The mansion of the wealthy Coupier de Maille family stands number 16, rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The entrance is a double door carved in walnut wood, usually used in the Dauphiné province for the best furniture. The figure carved on both ventails is said to be young Louis XIV, as a a testimony of the attachment of the Coupier de Maille to their king

Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau is curved : the houses on it southern side were built against the Roman city wall and followed its shape. Famous writer Stendhal, was born as Henri Bayle (see other tip) in the house number 14.

Number 15 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, is the "Hôtel Rabot" (Rabot mansion). It was built in the XVIth century by the Rabot family that gave several councilors and Presidents to the Parliament of the Dauphiné province.

The "Hôtel Rabot".was built in the XVth and modified in the XVIth and XVIIth. From rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an elegant tower oriel window in a Renaissance style can still be seen.

The Fountain on the eastern end of Avenue Alsace-Lorraine was built in 1986, when the Avenue became a pedestrian only zone. It is made of three stone spheres
Representing the solar system. The spheres are carved in stone from Hauteville. The largest weights 6 tons. They are maintained behind a coping made of Carrare marble. Eight projectors illuminate the flow of 200 m3 per hour from the inside