Mont Jalla as seen from the Porte de France

Park in the free car park on the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle.

(S/E) Walk past the Porte de France; this walk begins in the Jardin des Dauphins.

(1) Head north along the paths of this beautiful garden. There are many paths, so it’s easy to get a bit lost, but it’s nothing to worry about. Always follow the paths and steps as you climb. Walk alongside the fortifications of Fort Rabot and continue climbing northwards, passing through the gates and terraces beneath the Bastille.

There are several viewpoints overlooking Grenoble, and plenty of terraces where you can take a break. Take your time – it’s magnificent. There’s a refreshment stand near the ‘Pylône des Bulles’.

(2) Go back down a few steps and cross the drawbridge to head away from the Bastille, still heading north. A leisure park is situated at the foot of the fortifications. Continue along this tarmac road until you reach the car park on the right. Take the path that climbs up before the Père Gras restaurant and continue along it heading north.

(3) At the fork in the road, take the left-hand branch. The climb is gentle and relatively gradual. Stay on this gravel path. After several hairpin bends, Mont Jalla comes into view. You’ll arrive at the Mountain Troops Memorial.

(4) Mountain Troops Memorial, free to visit. Take your time to read all the information boards and admire the view of Grenoble below. This is the highest point of this lovely walk.

Retrace your steps to make your way back down to La Bastille.

(2) Take the path that runs beneath the restaurant and begin the descent along a wide path that passes under the cable car heading south-east. Go 50 metres past a tight hairpin bend to the right.

(5) Turn sharply left onto the path. The path winds down in a series of hairpin bends. Pass through several gates in the defensive walls and also down some steps to reach the Porte Saint-Laurent. Head towards the bridge over the Isère.

(6) Opposite the Isère, take the pavement running alongside it on the right bank, Quai Xavier Jouvin. Continue along Quai Mounier, Quai Perrière and Quai de France. Return to the starting point of the circular route at the Porte de France. Follow the same route back as on the way out to return to the car park at the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle (A/D).

Food and drink available at La Bastille.
Please note that the gates to the Jardin des Dauphins close at 8.00 pm in summer and 6.00 pm in winter.

You can go up to the roof of the Bastille restaurant to admire the Belledonne massif and, on a clear day, sometimes even Mont Blanc.

The leisure park, the Mandrin Caves, the Promenade de la Poudrière.