Isère cannot be reduced to a single image of the mountains: four mountain ranges and an elevation difference of 3,954 metres set the scene for striking changes in the landscape. This contrast is especially vivid in the Chartreuse. There, elevations range from 200 to 2,082 metres; forests, protected nature, villages and viewpoints shape the landscape. For geology enthusiasts, the Cirque du Bournillon is an example of karst terrain: it was shaped by erosion and is connected to the water emerging from the Bournillon Cave.
History and Cultural Heritage
History can also be explored through specific buildings and cultural connections. The Château du Gouvernement in Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont was built in the early 14th century. In the late 11th century, Saint Bruno founded the Carthusian Order and its first monastery in the Chartreuse Mountains. A different cultural role emerged in Proveysieux in the late 19th century: the village became a meeting place and source of inspiration for landscape painters from the Grenoble area.
The cultural heritage includes more than 300 listed historic buildings, 125 sites awarded the “Patrimoine en Isère” label and 70 museums. Isère is also associated with 800 recorded fortified sites and hundreds of castles. These figures show different facets of the region’s heritage: alongside individual buildings, fortified sites and museums also shape its character. Collections and figures may change over time.
Hiking and Getting Around
The routes offer different options in terms of type and scope. The Au-fil-de-la-Bourne route is 33 kilometres long, passes through eight municipalities in Isère and Drôme, and offers varied landscapes and viewpoints. It is accessible by public transport; connections may change. The 2024 edition of the Chartreuse hiking guide covers 50 marked trails for all levels of difficulty. In winter, visitors can choose snowshoeing, sledging and hikes on marked trails; seasonal offerings may vary. The information helps with different planning needs: the Bourne route has a specific length and itinerary, while the Chartreuse selection covers a range of difficulty levels. Trail conditions and markings may change; check the latest information before planning a route.
Cycling at Different Scales
Cyclists also have a range of options: Isère has 370 kilometres of greenways and cycle routes between the banks of the Rhône and the mountain passes of Oisans. In addition, 21 marked cycling passes and climbs are listed, covering more than 290 kilometres. The 21 signposted loops cover 956 kilometres of departmental and municipal roads. These figures describe different route options and should not be understood as one continuous route.
Isère Attractivité has also developed 18 secured leisure routes for electric-assist bikes and electric-assist mountain bikes. Services along the routes include charging, parking and e-bike rental; these offerings may change. When planning a ride, consider the type and length of the route, as well as the kind of activity you are looking for. For specific plans, it is worth checking the latest route and service information.
Regional Specialties
Specialties associated with Isère include Grenoble walnuts, Chartreuse liqueur, Royans ravioli, Saint-Marcellin cheese and Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage blue cheese. These names add a culinary perspective to the region’s landscapes and cultural heritage, offering another way to discover the area.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Étienne-De-Saint-Geoirs, Cras, Saint-Andéol, Auris, Chamrousse, Corps, Corrençon-En-Vercors, Gresse-En-Vercors, La Salette-Fallavaux, La Salle-En-Beaumont, Les Adrets, Saint-Pierre-De-Chartreuse, Villard-De-Lans, Les Abrets, Les Avenières, Paladru, Grenoble, Autrans, Vaujany, Saint-Appolinard, Chuzelles, Voreppe, Voiron, Villefontaine, Vénosc, Seyssins, Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, Saint-Martin-Dʼhères, Saint-Marcellin, Saint-Ismier, Roussillon En Isere, Reventin-Vaugris, Pont-En-Royans, Montbonnot-Saint-Martin, Moirans, Meylan, Le Pont-De-Claix, Le Freney-Dʼoisans, La Mure, Gières, Fontanil-Cornillon, Faverges-De-La-Tour, Eybens, Échirolles, Crolles, Corenc, Chasse-Sur-Rhône, Chanas, Bourgoin, Bernin, Allevard, Uriage-Les-Bains, Le Bourg-D'oisans, Theys, Méaudre, Saint-Lattier, Chapareillan, Moissieu-Sur-Dolon, Viriville, La Ferrière, L'isle-D'abeau, Sassenage, Huez, Saint-Martin-De-La-Cluze, Claix, Beaucroissant, Ruy, Vinay, Barraux, Grenay, Oz, Vienne, Auberives-Sur-Varèze, Saint-Hilaire, Sainte-Luce, Besse, Valbonnais, Serpaize, Septème, Le Gua, Pont-Evêque, Chonas-L'amballan, Charavines, Mont-De-Lans, Seyssinet-Pariset, Morestel, Monestier-De-Clermont, Romagnieu, Susville, Saint-Quentin-Sur-Isère, Vignieu, Saint-Bernard, Allemond, Saint-Savin, Saint-Egrève, Lans-En-Vercors, Réaumont, Chichilianne, Saint-Vérand, Vernioz, Saint-Clair-Du-Rhône, Saint-Martin-Le-Vinoux, Domène, Montagnieu, La Buisse, Miribel-Les-Échelles, Châbons, Porcieu-Amblagnieu, Montalieu-Vercieu, La Motte-D'aveillans, Chavanoz, Cordéac, Bresson, Vertrieu, Saint-Paul-Dʼizeaux, Mayres-Savel, Villard-Reculas, Sablons, Estrablin, Le Péage-De-Roussillon, Mens, Villeneuve-De-Marc, Seyssuel, Chantelouve, Valjouffrey, La Verpillière, La Tour-Du-Pin, Charette, Treffort, Le Sappey-En-Chartreuse, La Morte, Château-Bernard, Sarcenas, Saint-Pierre-D'allevard, Rencurel, Saint-Nizier-Du-Moucherotte, La Motte-Saint-Martin, La Forteresse, Izeron, Flachères, Châtelus, Bellegarde-Poussieu, Izeaux, Clelles, Marcollin, Villette-D'anthon, Corbelin, Tullins, Salaise-Sur-Sanne, Vaulnaveys-Le-Bas, Saint-Baudille-De-La-Tour, Domarin, Saint-Christophe-En-Oisans, Frontonas, Le Pont-De-Beauvoisin, Beaurepaire, Saint-Guillaume, Laval, Montcarra, La Chapelle-Du-Bard, Merlas, Saint-Geoire-En-Valdaine, Mizoën, Saint-Alban-Du-Rhône, Moidieu-Détourbe, Saint-Étienne-De-Crossey, Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont, Villemoirieu, Pommiers-La-Placette, Montseveroux, Saint-Nazaire-Les-Eymes, Saint-Didier-De-La-Tour, Meyrieu-Les-Étangs, La Sône, Saint-Ondras, Sillans, Choranche, Chatte, Biviers, Siccieu-Saint-Julien-Et-Carisieu, Saint-Julien-De-Raz, Saint-Christophe-Sur-Guiers, Saint-Just-Chaleyssin, Saint-Just-de-Claix, Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier, Montferrat, Le Monestier-du-Percy, Crémieu, Roybon, Pontcharra, Saint-Chef, Saint-Romain-de-Jalionas, Saint-Pancrasse, Marnans, Cheyssieu, Assieu, Colombe, Auberives-en-Royans, Saint-Romain-de-Surieu, Lalley, Dolomieu, Clonas-sur-Varèze, Clavans-en-Haut-Oisans, Pellafol, Panossas, La Frette, La Balme-les-Grottes, Dionay, Thodure, Rives, Mottier, Saint-Pierre-de-Chérennes, Le Touvet, Ornon, Saint-Hilaire-du-Rosier, Nivolas-Vermelle, Panissage, Saint-Joseph-de-Rivière, Tignieu-Jameyzieu, Saint-Siméon-de-Bressieux, Pont-de-Chéruy, Hières-sur-Amby, Vaulnaveys-le-Haut, Valencin, Trept, Villard-Reymond, Morêtel-de-Mailles, Pressins, La Terrasse, Herbeys, Séchilienne, Chirens, Vizille, Nantes-en-Ratier, Lavars, Annoisin-Chatelans, Sérézin-de-la-Tour, Fontaine, Saint-Baudille-et-Pipet, Laffrey, Ambel, Vénérieu, Vaulx-Milieu, Saint-Barthélemy-de-Séchilienne, Poliénas, Charantonnay, Bilieu, Noyarey, Brangues, Ponsonnas, Proveysieux, Quet-en-Beaumont, Chantesse, Engins, La Combe-de-Lancey, La Rivière, Bressieux, Bouvesse-Quirieu, Jarcieu, La Côte-Saint-André, Morette, Janneyrias, Heyrieux, Oris-en-Rattier, Pisieu, Pierre-Châtel, Savas-Mépin, Velanne, Vernas, Veurey-Voroize, Chozeau, Jarrie, Cholonge, Optevoz, Beauvoir-de-Marc, Veyssilieu.
For the regional travel overview: Rhône-Alpes.
