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Park along the Ancienne Route de Lyon. In Grenoble, parking spaces are paid during the week. There are a few free spaces in Saint-Martin-Le-Vinoux. Tram access: line E, Casamaures Village stop (park and ride).
(S/E) Take the staircase parallel to the road, just before the Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux sign (see photo). When you reach Impasse de la Libération, continue climbing on the right. Take Impasse du Belvédère and turn right onto Rue de la Libération. Continue right until you reach Route de Clémencières.
(1) Cross it carefully, then take the small green metal staircase. In the woods, take the path on the right and follow the route lined with logs. Walk along a guardrail (see photo), then cross a small scree slope. Some passages are quite steep. Be careful, as the ground can be slippery or muddy in wet weather. Walking poles are very useful here. You will reach the intersection with the entrance to the Mandrin caves on your left.
(2) Here you can choose whether or not to go through them.
If you do, you can easily rejoin the route by taking the Bastille path (tarmac road on the right as you leave the caves).
If not, continue along the trail to the right.
After visiting the Bastille site, head towards the lower level (the one you arrived at) near the low wall facing Grenoble, with the cable car on your right. From there, you will see the path leading back down below. On the left, take the first hairpin bend, which goes around the fort wall. Do not take the second bend and continue straight on towards Porte de France. Descend, keeping to this course. You will reach a Y-junction with a log reinforcement in the middle of the path for the last few metres.
(3) Take the path on the right, marked by a red sign indicating the second part of the via ferrata. Walk 8 metres, then take a path downhill to the left into the woods. Continue for 60 metres, take the hairpin bend, then the next path on the right which leads to an old stone building. Take the path on the left downhill to Guy Pape Park.
(4) After crossing the park, take the path immediately to the right, retracing your steps a little (see map). Be careful not to take the gate 30 metres further on (normally closed), which leads to a steep descent to Via Ferrata.
Go down a small, fairly steep staircase (take care if it is wet) before joining Chemin de la Rochette.
(5) Here you have two options:
- descend Chemin de la Rochette (on the left) to the main road, then follow it to the car park (S/E),
- take the path on the right to return to the initial crossroads through the forest, which is the route shown on the map.
(1) Retrace your steps in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
Easy 
