The development of Grenoble as a city.

If it's your first time in Grenoble, I'm sure you've already heard that it's the capital of the Alps, that it's the land of walnuts (Fr: noix) and Chartreuse liqueur, that its main tourist attraction is the Bastille fort and that Napoleon has a history linked to Grenoble. And yes, all this information is correct, but did you know that Grenoble existed before the 4th century and that it has undergone up to eight historical changes? Let me tell you all about it.

Grenoble's development has always been marked by important historical events that have led to major changes in its structure, its borders and its importance at national and even international level.

The town first appeared as a territory of the Gallo-Roman Empire under the name of Cularo. This name was changed in the 4th century to Gratien, and later to Gratianopolis, which eventually became Grenoble. The Counts of Albion converted it into the capital of Dauphiné and Viennois in the 11th century. Later, around 1830, King Louis XI incorporated the Dauphiné into the kingdom of France.

Grenoble and the region were divided during the Wars of Religion in the 15th century. But the city was united again, urbanised and embellished in the 16th century by the Duke of Lesdiguières, who put an end to the wars in the Dauphiné.

One of the most important events in Grenoble took place on 7 June 1788. The people of Grenoble supported the members of parliament and revolted against the abolition of Parliament dictated by Louis XVI. According to historians, this day marked the beginnings of the French Revolution. After these revolts, they met in Vizille and from there led to the Estates-General on 5 May 1789 in Versailles, where the Revolution began.

Another important event occurred in 1869, when Aristide Bergès equipped the Lancey heights with the first high waterfall connected to an electricity generator. This was to be known as "white coal" (houille blanche), and would lead to an industrial and scientific boom that the town would come to know for its glove and metal industries. This event also gave rise to the Perret Tower, a symbol of modernity at the 1925 International Exhibition of White Coal and Tourism, which turned Grenoble into the capital of the Alps.

Grenoble was also involved in both World Wars. In the First, it was used as a garrison centre due to the birth of Grenoble's chemical sector and the development of the war industry. It was also used to house thousands of wounded in temporary hospitals. During the Second World War, the town earned the nickname "Little Russia" for its early and fierce resistance to the Italian and German troops. On 5 November 1944, it was awarded the Liberation Cross by General de Gaulle for "having well deserved the Fatherland".

By the early 1960s, the town had experienced economic and demographic growth, but its infrastructure was inadequate. Albert Michallon, mayor of Grenoble at the time, submitted the city's bid to host the 1968 Winter Olympics in order to undertake modernisation work. Later, Hubert Dubedout was to develop the project to change Grenoble's image, with everything we know today: the town hall, the railway station, the creation of bridges, motorways, the Palais des Sports, the Maison de la Culture, the Olympic Village, the Malherbe district, the Hôpital Sud, etc.

Main sources: www.grenoble.fr and www.grenoble-patrimoine.fr