Le Quartier Saint-Laurent

The Saint-Laurent district lies on the right bank of the Isère river in Grenoble, at the foot of the steep hill crowned by the Bastille fortress, and it is the oldest residential quarter of the city. Its narrow streets climb the slope, lined with tall, colourful houses, some of them with a distinctly Italian look, and its quays face the old town across the water. A cable car, known as the Bubbles because of its round cabins, leaves from the riverside here and carries visitors up to the Bastille, with wide views of the city and the mountains of the Alps, so the quarter is also the starting point for one of the best-known excursions in Grenoble.

The centre of the district is the Musée archéologique Saint-Laurent, on the Place Saint-Laurent. It is installed in the former church of Saint-Laurent, and its interest lies in what archaeologists found beneath the building. Excavations carried out in the twentieth century revealed layers of burials and religious buildings going back to late antiquity. The visit takes you down into the site by walkways, so you can look at the crypt, a vaulted burial chapel of the sixth century, which is one of the oldest Christian monuments in the region, and at the foundations of the successive churches that were built above it over the following centuries. A free audio guide explains what you see and helps you to understand the complex history of the site, as the walls, tombs and floors belong to many periods.

The museum is accessible and suitable for children, with accessible toilets on site, and entry is free. It is open most days from late morning to early evening, usually closed on Mondays and some public holidays, so check the current schedule. The best time to visit is on a weekday morning, when it is quieter and the dim light of the crypt is more atmospheric. A visit takes about an hour.

Around the museum, the quarter has a quiet and slightly village-like feeling in contrast to the busier streets of the centre, with small restaurants, bars and shops. The walk along the quay gives views of the riverfront houses, and several steep staircases lead up the hill toward the Bastille, for those who prefer to walk. The Parc Guy Pape and the Jardin des Dauphins on the slope above are pleasant places to rest.

The district suits history lovers, families and walkers. The Musée de Grenoble, the Place Grenette, the Place Saint-André and the Musée de l'Imprimerie are within a short distance.