Grenoble, ses universités et la montagne / Grenoble, university town in a mountain environment

Abstract : Grenoble, university town in a mountain environment. The University of Grenoble, which, though it has a long history, has only really developed in recent years, for a long time maintained close ties with industry before becoming more independent and developing links with its urban and alpine environment. From the early 1980s, the University found itself unable to meet the new demands placed upon it. The need to improve facilities became particularly felt as technical, economic and scientific changes led to the demand for new branches. The locating of university activities throughout the Grenoble urban area was chosen as a means of dynamising and harmonising the links between the city and the university and appears to confirm the role of the university as a force in structuring urbanisation as well as the image that others have of Grenoble, which in turn contributes to the myth of today's city being founded on the university. Today, the University and its research activities occupy a central position in the city, their spatial expression in the urban area being defined in terms of the new roles of local authorities and university institutions.