GRENOBLE, the ancient capital of the Dauphine in south east France, and of the Isere department, 75 m. by rail from Lyons. Pop. (1931) 82,873. It is one of the most strongly for tified cities in Europe. Built at a height of 702 ft. the greater part of the town rises on the left bank of the Isere. The newer part has wide thoroughfares and modern buildings. The original town (of but small extent) was built on the right bank of the Isere at the southern foot of the Mont Rachais, which is now covered by a succession of fortresses 885 ft. above the town.
Grenoble is the seat of a bishopric, founded in the 4th century. It was formerly a suffragan of Vienne and is now in the ecclesi astical province of Lyons. The most remarkable building is the late 15th century Palais de Justice, on the site of the old palace of the Parlement of the Dauphine. Opposite is the church of St. Andre (13th century), formerly the chapel of the dauphins of the Viennois. The cathedral church of Notre Dame is a build ing, dating in part from the 11th century. The church of St. Laurent is the oldest in the city (11th century) and has a crypt dating from Merovingian times. The town library has a rich collection of mss. (7,000) and printed books (250,000 vols.) which in great part belonged till 1793 to the monastery of the Grande Chartreuse. There is a natural history museum which contains numerous geological specimens from the districts of the Dauphine and Savoy. The university and a hospital founded in the 15th century are notable institutions.
The staple industry is the manufacture of kid gloves, most of the so-called gants Jouvin being made here. There are about 8o glove factories. Other articles produced are artificial ce ments, liqueurs, linen goods, copper goods, paper peltry, leather goods, oriental goods, straw hats and carved furniture.
Grenoble occupies the site of Cularo, a village of the Allobroges, fortified by Diocletian and Maximian at the end of the 3rd cen tury. Its present name is a corruption of Gratianopolis, in honour of Gratian (4th century). After passing under the power of the Burgundians (c. 44o) and the Franks (532) it became part of the kingdom of Provence (879-1032). On the break-up of that kingdom a long struggle for supremacy ensued between the bishops of the city and the counts of Albon, the latter winning in the I2th century, taking the title of Dauphins of the Viennois in the 13th century. In Grenoble was ceded with the rest of the Dauphine to France, but retained its municipal privileges. In 1562 it was sacked by the Protestants, but in 1572 the firmness of its governor saved it from a repetition of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. In 1 S90 Lesdiguieres (1543-1626) took the town in the name of Henry IV. and constructed its fortifications, quays, etc. In 1788 the attempt of the king to weaken the power of the parlement of Grenoble roused the people to arms, and the "day of the tiles" (June 7, 1788) is memorable for the defeat of the royal forces. In 179o, on the formation of the department of the Isere, Grenoble became its capital. Grenoble was formerly much sub ject to floods, especially from the Drac. One of the worst took place in I 219, while that of 1778 was known as the deluge de la Saint Crgipin.