Karl Marx Park, starting from Fontaine

Park in the car park at Karl Marx Park in Fontaine (a suburb of Grenoble).

(S/E) Set off from the car park heading towards Château Borel, a vast Dauphiné mansion. Go round it on the right. When the tarmac ends, you’ll spot a path continuing straight ahead. Very quickly, it begins to climb steeply. It branches off at times.
You’ll reach a slight plateau from which you’ll have a 180° view of the Grenoble basin at a place called La Balme du Glos.

(1) Continue along this path. It leads onto a small tarmac road, the Chemin des Bois des Vouillants.

(2) Turn left onto it. The path descends very steeply and winds twice before reaching the valley. When you reach Rue de la Résistance, turn left.
Very soon, turn left again to re-enter Karl Marx Park. Walk past the tennis courts before reaching the château and the car park. (S/E)

(S/E) Karl Marx Park car park in Fontaine: You can get there by car (car park with around sixty spaces) or by public transport. In that case, take tram line A or line C6, get off at the Louis Maisonnat stop, then take Rue Jean Bocq, which leads to the park.

Although this walk is short, there is still a 75-metre elevation gain over approximately 400 metres, on a fairly challenging path. This is why it is classified as ‘Moderate’ in terms of difficulty.

There are some stunning views over the Grenoble basin, stretching from the peaks of the Chartreuse to those of the Taillefer.
In the park, you’ll find some fine examples of hundred-year-old trees.