Grenoble, capital of the Alpes

30 September 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  8 minutes

Palace of the Parliament of Dauphiné © Milky

Palace of the Parliament of Dauphiné © Milky

Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, situated at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère. The proximity of the mountains has led to the city being known as the “Capital of the Alps.” Grenoble’s history encompasses a period of more than 2,000 years, and the city has been the capital of the Dauphiné since the 11th century. Grenoble experienced a period of economic expansion in the nineteenth and 20th centuries, which is symbolized by the holding of the X Olympic Winter Games in 1968. The city is now a significant scientific center in Europe. Grenoble hosts several festivals: the Grenoble Jazz Festival in March, the Open Air Short Film Festival in early July, and the Cabaret Frappé music festival at the end of July.   read more…

Turin, capital of the Alps

3 August 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  8 minutes

Turin Collage © DanieleDF1995

Turin Collage © DanieleDF1995

Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 1.7 million inhabitants; the Turin metropolitan area is estimated by OECD to have a population of 2.2 million.   read more…

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