Isere

Visit Isere

Isere is best known for the winter sports, mountain passes and ski resorts in the east, and cycling enthusiasts will surely head for Alpe d'Huez. A great deal of the department has impressive mountain scenery making Isere a popular destination with outdoor enthusiasts for most of the year

Selected places to visit in Isere

Isere: an introduction

The Isere department is situated in the heart of the Rhone-Alpes region of south-eastern France, and based around the city of Grenoble and the Rhone River. It is a department of varied and stunning scenery, and tourism is a very important source of income and local industry.

Very broadly the east of the department is within the French Alps while moving towards the centre and the west of Isere the mountains are less high, albeit still very attractive as we cross the cliffs, steep-sided valleys and lower mountains of the Vercors plateau to the west of Grenoble (and the Vercors Regional Natural Park).

Visiting Isere

Visitors to Isere typically visit for the wide range of outdoor activities available in great scenery, both in summer and winter, but there are also an interesting selection of towns and villages, castles and religious monuments to explore during your visit.

A substantial part of the Ecrins National Park falls within the Isere department of the Rhone-Alpes, also known for its dramatic mountain and glacier scenery.

The town of Grenoble is the centre of cultural activity in Isere, with numerous museums and galleries to explore.

The small town of Mens is about 50km south of Grenoble, while the scenic suspended houses in the village of Pont-en-Royans are south towards Valence, with the stunning abbey a little north of Pont-en-Royans at Saint-Antoine-l-Abbaye.

Oher villages of interest include those at Cognin (next to the Cognin gorges), Méaudre and Saint-André-en-Royans to the west, Corps (see also Notre-Dame-de-la-Sallette) to the south, and those of Saint-Christophe, Venosc and Besse in the mountains to the south-east of the Isere department.

Heading towards the north of Isere (by way perhaps of the popular Walibi Theme Park!) from Grenoble is the extensive Chartreuse region of forested valleys (the Chartreuse Regional Natural Park) and of course the famous Monastery of Grande Chartreuse (not open to the public).

Further north-west still we find another change, with the hills in the region around Paladru Lake - the lake is a popular summertime destination and offers a wide range of water based activities.

Vienne is another important city, to the south of Lyon, and see also the village a little southwards at Montseveroux, while the medieval town at Cremieu is in the far north of the department. Other suggested villages to visit nearby include those at Morestel and Saint-Chef.

Ski resorts in Isere

The best known ski-resorts in Isere fall in the east of the department, and include Alpe d'Huez (also well known as a Tour de France cycling climb), Les-7-Laux and Deux-Alpes.

More Highlights in Isere

Other highlights within the department include the fascinating cave system at Choranche caves (Villard de Lans), a great contrast to the outdoor scenery that surrounds you, while some of the 'man-made' highlights include the Abbey at Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye; Vizille Castle and surrounding parklands (also home to the National museum of the French revolution); and the pilgrimage site at Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette.

See a list of all Isere communes

Page in French? See Isere (Francais)