Bastille, Fortified complex on Mount Rachais, Grenoble, France
The stone fortress stands at 476 meters above sea level, featuring defensive walls, casemates, and observation points overlooking the Chartreuse mountain range.
General Haxo directed extensive renovations from 1824 to 1847, transforming the former military outpost into a robust installation with enhanced defensive capabilities.
The Mountain Troops Museum within the fortress documents the evolution of alpine warfare, displaying equipment and artifacts from 1888 to present day.
Visitors access the fortress via a cable car system from central Grenoble, operating continuously throughout the day and providing transport to multiple levels.
The fortress contains the Mandrin Caves, an underground network of passages that formed part of the original defense system against attacks from Savoy.
Location: Grenoble
Location: Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux
Architects: François-Nicolas-Benoît Haxo
Official opening: 14 century
Elevation above the sea: 491 m
Made from material: stone
Part of: Grenoble fortified belt
Address: Bastille 38000 Grenoble
Website: https://bastille-grenoble.fr
GPS coordinates: 45.19895,5.72527
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:14
Grenoble displays architectural developments from the medieval period to the present day. The medieval Notre-Dame Cathedral stands in the historic center, while the Art Museum offers modern exhibition spaces. The city includes the Tour Perret, a cylindrical tower building from the 1920s, and the Garage hélicoïdal, a spiral parking structure from the same era. Religious buildings such as Saint-Louis Church and Saint-Bruno Church represent different stylistic periods. The Sainte-Cécile Convent and the Palace of the Parliament of Dauphiné show historic administrative and ecclesiastical architecture. The Bastille fortress overlooks the city and can be reached by cable car from Quai Stéphane Jay. The Hôtel de Lesdiguières and the Old Episcopal Palace document aristocratic residential culture. Paul-Mistral Park forms a large green space containing Lesdiguières Stadium and the Alpexpo conference center. The Saint-Laurent Bridge crosses the Isère River, while the Sainte-Claire market halls house daily commerce. Vizille Castle lies outside the city in the commune of the same name. The Musée dauphinois and the Museum of Resistance and Deportation present regional history, complemented by cultural facilities such as the MC2 cultural center and Le Magasin des horizons.
Grenoble sits in the Isère River valley, surrounded by three mountain ranges in the French Alps. The city combines alpine landscape with urban infrastructure and serves as a base for exploring the surrounding mountain regions. The Fort de la Bastille, accessible via a historic cable car, provides views over the city and valleys. Parc Paul Mistral covers 52 acres (21 hectares) in the city center and includes sports facilities and green spaces. The Musée de Grenoble displays European artworks from the 13th century to the present, including French painting and modern art. The Musée Dauphinois documents regional history and alpine culture. The Musée de l'Ancien Évêché focuses on local history from the Middle Ages to the present. Place Saint-André forms the historic center with medieval architecture, while Place Grenette serves as a central market square. Château de Vizille, located 9 miles (15 kilometers) south, was the site of the 1788 assembly and now houses a museum on the French Revolution. The Grottes de Sassenage, prehistoric limestone caves on the city outskirts, offer guided tours through underground galleries.
Around Grenoble, the mountains begin at the edge of the sidewalks. It only takes a few steps to leave the streets and reach a path that climbs toward the trees. Here, nature is never far away: it surrounds the city, observes it, invites it out. You climb the Bastille hill, cross the Chartreuse forests, follow the Isère river, or ascend toward the cliffs of the Petites Roches. The trails follow one another and are not alike: some are gentle, others more athletic, but all offer the same feeling of space and light. Between hikes, you discover parks, gorges, plateaus, and villages hanging over the valley. Grenoble lives to the rhythm of the seasons, hikers, and the wind in the pines. It is a city oriented towards the mountains, where each step takes you a little higher.
Grenoble offers numerous photography locations, from the Saint-Laurent Bridge over the Isère River to the Bastille fortress at 476 meters elevation. The city center includes the Victor Hugo square, the Dauphiné Parliament Palace from 1500, and the modern glass Museum. The medieval Saint-Laurent district presents stone houses along narrow streets. Parks and gardens provide natural settings with Alpine views.
Musée dauphinois
447 m
Passerelle Saint Laurent
612 m
Mont Jalla
566 m
Grenoble Archaeological Museum
500 m
Pont de Chartreuse
611 m
The Lion and Serpent fountain
516 m
Mémorial national des troupes de montagne
560 m
CCSTI de Grenoble
560 m
Musée des troupes de montagne
41 m
Pont Marius Gontard
635 m
Musée Dauphinois
443 m
Tour de l'Isle
644 m
Porte Saint-Laurent
521 m
Citadel bridge
578 m
Via ferrata de Grenoble
510 m
Sainte-Marie-d'en-Haut
454 m
Belvédère Vauban
28 m
Acrobastille
12 m
War memorial at the Bastille
163 m
Scenic viewpoint
529 m
Montée des Dauphins
455 m
Grotte de Mandrin
268 m
Via ferrata de Grenoble
599 m
Scenic viewpoint
179 m
Caserne Vinoy
637 m
Terrasse des Géologues
80 m
Quai Perrière
554 m
Fort Rabot
507 mReviews
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