Grenoble

one of the most dynamic towns in France

Grenoble stands out today as one of the most dynamic towns in France. At the gateway to the French Alps, it lies at the confluence of the Drac and Isere and is surrounded by three mountain ranges, the Vercors, Chartreuse and the Belledonne. It may be remembered for hosting the Winter Olympics in 1968. On arriving in the city by coach from Lyon airport or TGV from Paris the outstanding natural beauty grips you.

Rhône-Alpes is one of Europe's most prosperous and dynamic regions. It rates as the second most prosperous region in France, after Paris-Ile-de-France, with a gross interior product per inhabitant 6% higher than the average for the European Union. The land surface of Rhône-Alpes is equivalent to that of Belgium, Switzerland or the Netherlands, with a population of nearly 6 million, comparable to Denmark or Finland.

Shopping:
Department stores are open 0900-1830 Monday to Saturday. Most shops are closed between 1200-1430. Food shops are open 0700-1830/1930. Some food shops (particularly bakers) are open Sunday mornings, in which case they will probably close Monday. Many shops close all day or half-day Monday. Hypermarkets are normally open until 2100 or 2200.

Post office:
Opening hours: 0800-1900 Monday to Friday; 0800-1200 Saturday.

Banks:
0900-1200 and 1400-1600 Monday to Friday. Some banks close Monday and some are open Saturday. Banks close early (1200) on the day before a bank holiday; in rare cases, they may also close for all or part of the day after.

Currency exchange:
Some first-class hotels are authorised to exchange foreign currency. Also look for the French equivalent of the Trustee Savings Bank, 'Crédit Mutuel' or 'Crédit Agricole', which have longer opening hours. Shops and hotels are prohibited from accepting foreign currency by law. Many UK banks offer differing exchange rates depending on the denominations of French currency being bought or sold. Travellers should check with their banks for details and current rates. Credit cards: American Express, Diners Club,Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. Travellers cheques:Travellers cheques are accepted almost everywhere. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in French Francs.