Isère: Discover Mountains, Trails and Culture

Isère combines four mountain ranges with an elevation difference of 3,954 metres. Its varied terrain offers different ways to shape a trip: landscapes, hiking trails, cycling tours or cultural attractions. When choosing a hotel location, it helps to first decide what you would like to experience in Isère. This lets you tailor your search to your travel plans.

Landscapes between Chartreuse and Bourne

In the Chartreuse area, elevations range from 200 to 2,082 metres. Forests, unspoilt nature, villages and panoramic views define the landscape. The Cirque du Bournillon is a karst landscape shaped by erosion and connected to the water emerging from the Grotte du Bournillon. These varied landscapes give nature experiences in Isère their own distinctive character.

Hiking and experiences throughout the year

The 2024 edition of a hiking guide features a selection of 50 marked hiking routes in the Chartreuse for all ability levels. In winter, you can include snowshoeing, sledding and hikes on marked trails in your plans for Isère; seasonal offerings may change. Another option is the 33-kilometre “Au fil de la Bourne” route. It passes through eight municipalities in Isère and Drôme and offers varied landscapes and viewpoints. The route is accessible by public transport. Before setting out, check the latest conditions and trail markings, as well as the connections that suit your travel day.

Cycling: different types of routes

There are several categories of cycling routes in Isère. The network includes a total of 370 kilometres of greenways and cycling routes between the banks of the Rhône and the passes of Oisans. In addition, 21 notable passes and climbs are designated over 290 kilometres; 21 signposted loops follow a total of 956 kilometres of departmental and municipal roads. These figures describe different offerings, not a single ride. Isère Attractivité has also developed 18 secured leisure routes for electrically assisted bicycles (VAE) and electric mountain bikes (VTTAE). Services include charging, parking and VAE rental. As available services may change, it is worth checking the latest information before your ride.

Cultural attractions and traces of history

The cultural offering includes more than 300 listed historic buildings, 125 sites designated “Patrimoine en Isère” and 70 museums. In addition, 800 fortified structures are documented, along with hundreds of castles. The Château du Gouvernement in Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont was built in the early 14th century. In the late 19th century, Proveysieux became a meeting place and source of inspiration for landscape painters from the Grenoble area. In the late 11th century, Saint Bruno founded the Carthusian Order and its first monastery in the Chartreuse Mountains.

Pont-en-Royans is known for its houses perched above the Bourne; the village centre is home to a water museum. Check current visiting arrangements before your visit. The Hameau du Ranc offers a glimpse into life in the past, with house ruins, old meadows and former charcoal-burning sites; there is also a picnic table there. Together, these places reveal different aspects of regional history, from buildings and the founding of a monastery to traces of everyday life in the past.

Regional specialities

Specialities associated with Isère include Grenoble walnuts, Chartreuse, ravioli from Royans, Saint-Marcellin cheese and blue cheese from Vercors-Sassenage. This selection brings together products with different regional connections and offers a culinary touchpoint for planning your trip.

Plan a stay that suits you

If you are looking for a hotel in Isère, first consider whether hiking, cycling, culture or regional specialities will shape your stay. For hiking plans, the trails and landscapes of the Chartreuse described above can serve as a guide; for cycling trips, you can choose between greenways, loops and signposted passes.

Discover more destinations:

Le Bourg-D'oisans, Theys, La Balme-les-Grottes, Dionay, Merlas, Auris, Jarrie, Clelles, Marcollin, Villette-D'anthon, Corbelin, Les Avenières, Seyssuel, Siccieu-Saint-Julien-Et-Carisieu, Saint-Julien-De-Raz, Saint-Christophe-Sur-Guiers, Saint-Just-Chaleyssin, Crémieu, Pierre-Châtel, Savas-Mépin, Velanne, Vernas, Veurey-Voroize, Morette, Janneyrias, Heyrieux, Oris-en-Rattier, Le Sappey-En-Chartreuse, La Morte, Montcarra, Vaujany, Saint-Appolinard, Chuzelles, Voreppe, La Chapelle-Du-Bard, Château-Bernard, 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, Optevoz, Valencin, Trept, Poliénas, Charantonnay, Grenoble, Autrans, Montagnieu, La Buisse, Vaulnaveys-le-Haut, Pont-En-Royans, Beaucroissant, Nivolas-Vermelle, Panissage, Saint-Joseph-de-Rivière, Tignieu-Jameyzieu, Saint-Siméon-de-Bressieux, Pont-de-Chéruy, Montalieu-Vercieu, Saint-Alban-Du-Rhône, Moidieu-Détourbe, Saint-Étienne-De-Crossey, Rencurel, Bilieu, Noyarey, Brangues, Villard-Reymond, Morêtel-de-Mailles, Pressins, La Terrasse, Marnans, Cheyssieu, Assieu, Colombe, Auberives-en-Royans, Saint-Romain-de-Surieu, Lalley, Dolomieu, Clonas-sur-Varèze, Clavans-en-Haut-Oisans, Saint-Just-de-Claix, Montferrat, Le Monestier-du-Percy, Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier, Ornon, Saint-Hilaire-du-Rosier, Charette, Treffort, Chantelouve, Valjouffrey, Villard-De-Lans, Les Abrets, Chapareillan, Moissieu-Sur-Dolon, La Ferrière, L'isle-D'abeau, Sassenage, Huez, Saint-Lattier, Paladru, Ruy, Vinay, Barraux, Grenay, 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, 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, Rives, Mottier, Roybon, Pontcharra, Saint-Chef, Saint-Romain-de-Jalionas, Saint-Pancrasse, Chamrousse, Corps, Corrençon-En-Vercors, Gresse-En-Vercors, La Salette-Fallavaux, La Salle-En-Beaumont, Les Adrets, Saint-Pierre-De-Chartreuse, Ponsonnas, Proveysieux, Quet-en-Beaumont, Chantesse, Engins, La Combe-de-Lancey, La Rivière, Bressieux, Bouvesse-Quirieu, Beauvoir-de-Marc, Veyssilieu, Saint-Marcellin, 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, Voiron, Saint-Geoire-En-Valdaine, La Motte-D'aveillans, Chavanoz, Chozeau, Saint-Martin-De-La-Cluze, La Verpillière, La Tour-Du-Pin, Vénosc, Seyssins, Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, Méaudre, Bellegarde-Poussieu, Izeaux, Thodure, Hières-sur-Amby, Villemoirieu, Pommiers-La-Placette, Montseveroux, Saint-Nazaire-Les-Eymes, Saint-Didier-De-La-Tour, Meyrieu-Les-Étangs, La Sône, Saint-Ondras, Cras, Saint-Andéol, Saint-Étienne-De-Saint-Geoirs, Sillans, Choranche, Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont, La Frette, Mizoën, Saint-Nizier-Du-Moucherotte, La Motte-Saint-Martin, La Forteresse, Izeron, Flachères, Châtelus, Saint-Ismier, Roussillon En Isere, Reventin-Vaugris, Tullins, Cordéac, Bresson, Vertrieu, Saint-Paul-Dʼizeaux, Mayres-Savel, Villard-Reculas, Sablons, Estrablin, Le Péage-De-Roussillon, Mens, Villeneuve-De-Marc, Jarcieu, La Côte-Saint-André, Chatte, Biviers, Saint-Martin-Dʼhères, Sarcenas, Saint-Pierre-D'allevard, Pellafol, Panossas, Miribel-Les-Échelles, Châbons, Porcieu-Amblagnieu, Pisieu, Claix, Saint-Pierre-de-Chérennes, Le Touvet, Cholonge, Villefontaine, Viriville

For the broader travel overview: Rhône-Alpes.