Relaxation ideas (... outside topology)
There is a swimming pool on the campus, and some lakes in the mountains around Grenoble.
If you like swimming, do not forget your swimming equipment.
If the weather and our budget allow, we will organize a hike to https://www.lac-monteynard.com/ during the first week-end. It is a 12.5 kilometer walk with 400 meters of elevation gain which takes 4.5 hours on average. There are some parts on narrow and steep paths. The bus would leave at 9 a.m. sharp in front of the University swimming pool on June 23. It would drop us off before 10 a.m. at the start of the hike near Treffort Le Lac and pick us up at 4:45 p.m. (sharp again) upon arrival in Savel. Participants should bring a picnic and water. They should be equipped with good shoes, sunscreen, sunhats, and rain clothes. The organizers would provide transportation, but they would let participants hike freely at their own responsibility.
Weather :
Although variable it is usually hot (+/- 90°F; +/- 27°C) with possible thunderstorms at night.
Light summer wears suffice, but do not forget rain clothes, sweaters and a pair of hiking shoes (mountains are close to the city).
Some other ideas to relax during the week-end or the free time.
1) In case of iffy weather, you may want to visit a museum.
A few natural possibilities are:
Musée de Grenoble (mainly paintings): https://www.museedegrenoble.fr/
Musée Dauphinois (history): https://musees.isere.fr/musee/musee-dauphinois/
Musée de l'ancien évêché (history): https://musees.isere.fr/musee/musee-de-lancien-eveche/
Musée de la Résistance et de la déportation (history): https://musees.isere.fr/musee/musee-de-la-resistance-et-de-la-deportation-de-lisere
Musée Hébert in La Tronche (paintings): https://musees.isere.fr/musee/musee-hebert
Museum de Grenoble (natural history): https://www.grenoble.fr/1607-museum-de-grenoble.htm
Please note: all these museums are accessible for free!
2) In case of nice weather, you may want to take some fresh air in the mountains that surround Grenoble (Chartreuse, Vercors, Belledonne).
A few places are accessible by bus, including:
- Chartreuse: Col de Vence, Le Sappey, Col de Porte
TAG Line 62, see https://www.tag.fr/61-lignes.htm
Starts from the Musée de Grenoble, place Lavalette,
stop at "col de Vence" or "Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse Place" or "Pont du Croz"
https://www.tag.fr/ftp/fiche_horaires/fiche_horaires_2014/PARCOURS_62.HTML
From there you can hike to Charmant Som: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-charmant-som/
(easy walk) or Chamechaude summit https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-chamechaude-depuis-le-col-de-porte/
(more difficult).
- Vercors: Saint-Nizier du Moucherotte, Lans en Vercors
Bus line T65, see https://carsisere.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/
Starts from Grenoble's bus station, next to the train station
From Saint-Nizier du Moucherotte you can hike to Moucherotte summit : https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-moucherotte/
(and from there get a great view on Grenoble city !)
- Belledonne: Saint-Martin-d'Uriage, Chamrousse
Bus line T87, see https://carsisere.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/
Starts from Grenoble's bus station, next to the train station
From there you can hike to Croix de Chamrousse summit via the Achard lake: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-lac-achard-col-de-la-botte-et-croix-de-c/
3) Grenoble is too skimpy for you? You can visit some neighbouring cities.
Obvious possibilities are Lyon (1:25 by train), Chambéry (55 min by train) and Annecy (1:45 by train).
Tickets for local trains (TER) can be purchased at the blue vending machines located in Grenoble's main station or in Gières Universités (a smaller station next to the campus). Train schedule is available here:
https://www.ter.sncf.com/auvergne-rhone-alpes
or on google map.
