Saint-Égrève walks

A short, challenging and perfect walk starting from La Monta, passing through the splendid Bellevue meadow—which certainly lives up to its name—then heading towards Le Sialet, to finish at the highest point of a superb wild meadow. Splendid views of the Chartreuse, Pinéa, Chamechaude, and the valley too! And directly opposite, the majestic Moucherotte, the Vercors stretching out behind it, and the bustling town far below. As beautiful as a painting by Jean Achard! And just a stone’s throw from the town...

This hike was organised by the Grenoble metropolitan area as part of its initiative to maintain and enhance the trails in the urban area. The hike is called Métrorando. The route described allows you to explore the foothills of the Chartreuse massif, as well as a beautiful forest and the small village of Mont-Saint-Martin.

This is a short, easy walk, perfect for after lunch or before dinner, which will delight young and old alike. For adults, chatting will be the ideal accompaniment to this walk, while children can throw stones into the Vence or skip them across the water.

An original alternative to the usual route up to La Pinéa from the Col de Porte, mainly through woodland and very little used. An ideal hike in summer thanks to the coolness of the forest. The 360° view from the summit of La Pinéa is magnificent, taking in the Chartreuse, Belledonne and the Vercors.

A pleasant circular through the woods of the commune of Proveyzieux leading to the Belvédère du Sialet, which offers a bird's-eye view of the Isère valley. Hikers will be happy to discover the large shopping area of Saint-Égrève, where many of them stock up on supplies.

A well-known local walk, presenting no difficulty. It takes you to the heights of Sassenage, as well as some pleasant neighbourhoods and the village centre. The "Batteries" are a defensive structure from the "iron belt" of the late 19th century: several battery emplacements, now empty of their artillery pieces. Find out about their former function.

A walk in the shade above Grenoble.

Ascent of the Aiguille de Quaix from the hamlet of La Jars in Quaix en Chartreuse: a fairly shaded forest route offering magnificent views of the Isère valley from the Aiguille de Quaix. The ascent of the Aiguille de Quaix requires a climb that can be difficult with heavy boots or for people who are prone to vertigo. However, the view at the foot of the peak, without climbing, is still worth the effort. The hike remains very interesting.

Views of the Chartreuse, the Vercors, Grenoble, the Isère, the Drac, Belledonne and Mont Blanc.

Mont-Rachais from Lévetière. Return via Mont-Jalla. View of the Chartreuse, Belledonne, Vercors and Mont Blanc if the weather is clear enough.

Mont-Rachais from Lachal, passing at the foot of the rocky outcrops to rejoin theGR®9.

A circular route on wide paths that allows you to delve into the history of millstones.

A fun hike bordering on mountaineering on a very little-used route leading to the Rocher de Chalves via its southern ridge. You will discover the Ouillon, a monolith clearly visible at the foot of the ridge, before climbing an easy rock face (never exceeding 3c) along the ridge. Caution: there is a sheer drop below the ridge, so you must proceed slowly and test each hold carefully, as some boulders are ready to tumble down.

Mount Rachais, from the hamlet of Frette, situated on its far northern side.

Walk through the Furon Gorges leading to the top of the village, where restaurants once welcomed Grenoble residents seeking coolness on Sundays. This short walk is very popular in hot weather, as the Furon area remains cool.

Explore the Gorges du Furon from Sassenage, via the Chemin des Cuves and, a little further up, the Pont Charvet (Resistance memorial). Do not attempt in wet weather: very steep paths for 2 hours with an 800-metre elevation gain. After that, the route via Engins and back to Sassenage is straightforward.

This hike takes you on a varied route with scenic viewpoints to discover some local curiosities, without leaving the Grenoble metropolitan area, as the starting point is at the terminus of tram line A, "La Poya". The varied passages through Les Vouillants are described in another hike on Visorando and can be added on for experienced walkers.

Forest route to reach the Durand farm overlooking the Isère valley.

This walk showcases the contrasting character of our landscape: southern slopes once terraced for vineyards, tall beech forests, the site of Chalais Monastery and the wild little valley of Malsouche. On the way down, you’ll take an old path leading to Chalais. It leads you to Voreppe’s industrial past, represented by the cement quarries. Trail No. 10 of the Western Chartreuse Trails. This trail presents risks typical of mountain and forest trails (falling branches, falling trees, falling rocks along the cliffs).

A lovely, fairly long circular route with the Chalais Monastery—which overlooks the town of Voreppe—as your destination; this is a slightly more challenging alternative to the usual drive up the road to the monastery. The views from the Aiguille de Chalais and the Rocher de Bellevue are breathtaking!

Every year, Grenoble organises a Street Art Festival, best explored by bike rather than on foot. This route brings together the main temporary artworks from the last three years, some of which are monumental. The owners have kindly allowed renowned artists to use their walls and garage doors. It’s best to set off on this city tour on a Sunday morning around 9.00 am, as there’s less traffic, the light is better and, above all, the shutters on shop fronts and garages are down.

Whilst the Croix de Quinsonas, situated on Mont Jalla, pays tribute to local Resistance fighters, the one on the ridge of Mont Rachais is far more enigmatic as to its origin. But both offer superb vantage points over the sprawling Grenoble conurbation, surrounded by Belledonne, the Taillefer, the Matheysine and the Vercors.

Exploring La Bastille and Mont Jalla. Since 2000, the summit of Mont Jalla has been home to the National Memorial to the Mountain Troops.

A beautiful, physically demanding route in the hills above Grenoble with impressive views. Quite a long route, with the possibility of running on several sections. Be careful, however, as the route on the La Tronche side is a bit chaotic.

The city has developed the western ascent of the Bastille, which is little known except to a few runners. This ascent is accessible via the Route de Clémencières. The proposed descent takes you back to the Jardin des Dauphins, but you can take another usual route (Fontaine du Lion or Porte Saint-Laurent, or even the Grenoble cable car, nicknamed "les Bulles").The slope is quite steep but safe. You will pass by some unusual views of the valley and the Grottes de Mandrin, a defensive structure of the Bastille's glacis.This hike should not be attempted in rainy weather or up to 24 hours afterwards, as the ground is slippery. The return trip is not recommended.

A short walk taking in various historical sites in Grenoble. Very easy and accessible, the route allows you to discover the historic centre and the squares that have marked Grenoble. With numerous cafés along the route, allow more than just walking time.

A route to the Aiguille and the Monastère de Chalais. A relentless climb with a steep, slippery and exposed access ramp to the south ridge.

A “Town-to-Mountain” hike that takes you from the banks of the Isère to the summit of Mont Rachais. At 1,046 metres, its ridge overlooks the eastern part of the Grenoble conurbation, the Haut-Grésivaudan and the Belledonne range. En route, you can visit the fortifications of the Bastille and the memorial to the Alpine troops on Mont Jalla. No particular difficulty (apart from the cumulative elevation gain of around 900m) and as this slope is well exposed, the route can be tackled in winter as the snow melts very quickly there.

From the city centre (where you can take your time exploring as you please), head out to the banks of the Isère for a short, entirely flat circular walk along the towpath – either on the embankment if the riverbanks are wet, or on the dirt track closer to the river if it is dry enough. Wide views of Belledonne, which may be snow-capped, depending on the season.

Grenoble, capital of the Alps, is well known. Climbing 400 metres from the centre of the city reputed to be the flattest in France is less common. We suggest a slightly challenging walk to the military memorial on Mont Jalla and, on the way back, discovering the "380 steps".