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Grenoble
The ancient capital of the Dauphine, Grenoble is the tourist centre of the Alps as well as a major stopping point for tourists driving between the Riviera and Geneva. While Grenoble is a sports capital in both winter and summer, the city is also renowned for its academia - its university was founded in 1339 and now has the largest summer-session programme in Europe. One of the highlights for visitors to the city is The Ideal Palace, created by Ferdinand Cheval over a period of 33 years. Cheval carried stones to his garden to create his dream which is unique in the world and which defies artistic classification, while artists such as Picasso and Breton all paid tribute to the building. The Musee de Grenoble was founded in 1796, and is one of the country's oldest art museums. It was the first French museum to focus on Modern Art, although there are also Flemish, Renaissance and Impressionist collections. The beautiful gardens of Le Jardin des Fontaines Petrifiantes is famous for its ancient limestone formations. The water garden took two years and 400 tonnes of timber to complete, and the 18,000 plants around the garden form a vivid display. For two hours of breathtaking views and excitement, try a trip on the nearby Chemin de Fer de la Mure, 30 kilometres of railway built into the mountains, with 142 bridges, 18 tunnels and 122 bends! There is more to Grenoble than you might have thought!