DON’T MISS
Caves de la Chartreuse It’s a quick jaunt down the motorway to the cellars of this famous liqueur. No monastery, no Carthusian monks on show these days, but this summer a new visitor trail is promised, with well-planned tours, ending with a tasting of both the green and yellow liquors. 10 bd Edgar-Kofler, Voiron, 00 33 4 7605 8177, chartreuse.fr Chocolats Zugmeyer A chocolate box of a chocolaterie that uses oldfashioned ganaches for the base of its truffles. The house speciality is a candied clementine coated in a dark couverture. 4 bd Agutte Sembat, 00 33 4 7646 3240, chocolats-zugmeyer.fr
Fromagerie Les Alpages Walk through the door and you might expect a wink from the horned dairy cow’s head hanging on the wall. It’s one of master cheesemonger Bernard Mure-Ravaud’s jokes, but his cheeses, carefully ripened in cellars beneath the shop floor, are among the finest in France. 4 rue de Strasbourg, 00 33 4 7646 3262, les-alpages.fr
Bastille by cable car The trip from the historic centre of Grenoble takes less than five minutes, but an aerial ride in one of the town’s bulles up to the Bastille fort is the easiest and best way to take in the town’s breathtaking location. Round trip from Quai Stéphane
Jay, £7.70pp. bastille-grenoble.fr
La Bourne Gorges Starting at picturesque village Pont-en-Royans, with houses overhanging the river, the Bourne winds through the heart of the Vercors Regional Natural Park, making for a perfect leisurely stroll. Food footnote: the district of Royans is the birthplace of Grenoble’s ravioles.
Laiterie Bayard This dairy deli has been around for over 85 years and procures not just regional cheeses but other local specialities, liqueurs and well-chosen wines from Savoie. 17 rue Bayard, 00 33 4 7644 3625
Le Chardon Doré Noix de Grenoble have an appellation and this patisserie and ice cream boutique right next to the central park,
Jardin de Ville, specialises in delicate nut tartlets, cakes and bonbons.
2 rue Montorge, 00 33 4 7654 0894, lechardondore.com
Le Zinc Some 1,000 wines (including Domaine Finot), 200 whiskies, rums and Chartreuses have made this the town’s oenophile hang-out of choice. 5 rue Auguste Gâche, 00 33 4 7603 0744, lezincbar.com
Maison Manival Bakery/café owned by quirky Grenoblois Stephane Massaut, whose breads (strong on spelt) are baked throughout the day for freshness. 98 Cours Jean Jaurès, 00 33 4 7648 6156, maison-manival.com
Marché de l’Estacade Probably the longest and one of the finest outdoor food markets in France. You’ll find it under the railway line leading to the SNCF station, flanked by two café-packed streets. Avenue de Vizille
Saint Jean Les Ravioles These ravioles, made to the same recipe for 85 years, are sold in local shops – look out for a pack to take home. Dough made from soft flour is rolled to less than 1mm thick. Just drop in simmering water for a minute until they rise to the surface. 310g, around £4.50. saint-jean.fr Thierry Court More of a tuck shop for grown-ups than a traditional patisserie, with posh bonbons and revisited chocolate bars that have earned Thierry a national following. 22 rue de la Poste, 00 33 4 7626 2357, petitbonheurs.fr