car hire Grenoble

Grenoble sits at the foot of the Alps about 100 kilometres from Lyon, and is the commercial and tourist centre of the Alps mountain range. Travellers on the go between Geneva and the Riviera often make Grenoble a stopping point. The city also has a longstanding reputation as an educational intellectual mecca, dating back to the founding of the University of Grenoble in 1339. These days this campus boasts the largest summer-session program in Europe. Given Grenoble's perfect Alps location, it's also known as a winter sports haven. Having hosted the 1986 Winter Olympics, it also plans to bid for the 2018 Games.

A short drive from Grenoble's city centre, Aéroport de St-Etienne de Saint-Geoirs is where you can pick up your car hire. Chambéry makes for an enjoyable side drive, and is just 55 kilometres from Grenoble. Chambéry's a fine place to alight on a tour of the Parc des Bauges, a stunning wilderness area complete with rolling green hills, mountains, valleys, and wildlife. Be sure not to miss the famous spa resort, Aix-Les-Bains – it's just a 10-kilometre drive from Chambéry.

The heart of Grenoble's historic city centre, Place St-André also boasts a vibrant nightlife scene. Young revelers populate the picturesque square and fill up the bars when night starts to fall. Le Saxo is another popular destination for celebratory travellers, hosting a vibrant patio party. Le Styx is a prime spot for dancing, featuring an eclectic mix of party music, and Le Georges V is Grenoble's best gay club.

Musée de Grenoble, one of France's oldest galleries (founded in 1796), owns the distinction of being one of the first French museums outside of art-forward Paris to highlight modern art. To that end, Picasso donated a piece, Femme Lisant, in 1921. Some other big names are here, including Matisse, Ernst, Klee, Monet, and Gauguin. The gallery is best known for its Impressionist collection. You can also view several modern-art sculptures outside in the park and esplanade surrounding the building.