La Côte-Saint-André is a quiet rural setting less than an hour from Grenoble city. It is also just 3 hours from Aix en Provence and a further 60 minutes onto the coast. With its Romanesque church signalled by a brick and pebble tower, its old covered market held up on an impressive six rows of wooden pillars, the slope-side town above the plain, La Côte-St-André has many appealing aspects.
Grenoble is known as the capital of the French Alps and is a major transport hub for both rail, air and road travel. It has a population of over 150,000 and has several universities with language schools playing a major role in its theme.
Twenty large and small ski resorts surround the city, the nearest being Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse, which is about 15 minutes’ drive away from the city.
Historically, both Grenoble and the surrounding areas were sites of mining and heavy industry. Abandoned mills and factories can be found in small towns and villages, and a few have been converted to tourist attractions, such as the coal mine at La Mure.
Musée Hector Berlioz
The main attraction in La Cote is the renovated Musée Hector Berlioz (t 04 74 20 24 88, www.musee-hector-berlioz.com) rebuilt in honour of the composer of such ecstatic pieces as Les Nuits d’été which attracts a passionate crowd.
The museum heralds every aspect of Hector’s life, such as his first instruments (a guitar and a flageolet, the latter a type of recorder, not a bean), numerous statues of the intense man, and above all gives a strong 19th-century bourgeois feel to the exhibition. The highest level concentrates on Berlioz’s writing as well as his music, the interactive posts allowing you to listen to short extracts. Down in the basement, you can appreciate longer pieces in the small auditorium.
Paradis du Chocolat
Passionate chocolate lovers may sniff out a particularly tempting chocolate shop on the lively main shopping street by the museum, run by the same man who directs the Paradis du Chocolat (t 04 74 20 35 89, www.paradis-chocolat.com; open weekends and public and school hols 2–6; adm), out on a limb at the top of the town, in the much-abused remnants of the château, now resembling a factory as much as a castle. Choc-a-bloc with information on chocolate history, culture and commerce. This chocolate museum is almost too much of a good thing, although you can buy lots of chocolate. You can also listen to an impassioned lecture on true chocolate-making by the owner.
For more information on the wider area, and the département of Isère, read the Cadogan guide to the Rhône-Alpes.
Berlioz’s parents are buried in the town’s main cemetery, but many other members of the family were buried in Grenoble, Lyon and other near-by towns and cities. Berlioz himself was buried in Montmartre Cemetery in Paris in 1869
Johan Barthold Jongkind (1819-1891) is also buried in the La Côte Saint-André cemetery (see below). A painter originally from Holland, he lived in La Côte from 1878 until his death. The youth of the town would affectionately call him “Père Jonquille”. He painted, among many others, scenes from La Côte and its countryside, all of which are held in museums and private collections. A selection of his La Côte paintings is reproduced in A. Moulin et al., La Côte Saint André en Isère(Gillonnay: Alexandre Moulin, 2005).
Side by side Jongkind’s tomb is that of Joséphine Fesser (1819-1891). An artist and a painter herself, she was a close friend and supporter of Jongkind and had a great influence on his art.
To mark Jongkind’s relationship with La Côte, a silhouette of the artist was installed in 2009 at a road junction not far from the town centre, on the way to the cemetery. The Hector Berlioz Museum organised an exhibition entitled, “Jongkind, from the Netherlands to the Dauphiné”, running from 21 June to 31 December 2009.
Market day is Thursday in La Cote St Andre is under the Halle du X111e siècle
La Cote St Andre Tourist Office http://tourisme-bievrevalloire.com/
Golf Please refer to the Golf in Rhone-Alpes magazine for full listings and websites.
Museum of Hector Berlioz http://www.musee-hector-berlioz.fr/
Cherry Rocher Museum http://www.cherry-rocher.fr/fr/musee/infos-pratiques.htm
Paradis Du Chocolat http://www.paradis-chocolat.com/
Moulin De Nantoin http://tourisme-bievrevalloire.com/noesit/!/fiche/moulin-de-nantoin-123327
Berlioz Festival http://www.festivalberlioz.com/
Each year in August there is a festival held in the Chateaux
Indoor / Outdoor Swimming Pool – Aqualib (retractable roof / mini flumes – swimming costumes & hats must be worn – no swimming shorts etc)
www.tourisme-bievre –liers.fr
Circuit du Laquais www.circuitdulaquais.com
Go karting and sport car racing
Palais Ideal Du Factuer Cheval www.facteurcheval.com
Les Labyrinthes de Hauterives http://www.labyrinthes-hauterives.com/
Poney Club de Sardieu www.poneyclubdesardieu.com
VERCORS
This ski station is 1 hour and 15 minutes from our house to the base station. There are two areas for beginners the Lans en Vercors is an ideal start and for intermediate skiers the Cote 2000 station in Correncon en Vercors has a variety of runs. There is an Intersport right at the base of the ski station where skis can be left overnight.
Ski – Villard de Lans Correncon en Vercors http://www.villarddelans.com/
Walking www.traverseesduvercors.com
Caves www.choranche.com
If the weather is bad, this is an ideal place to visit because the caves are accessible all year round. Please refer to the website for further information.
Le Musee L’eau www.musee-eau.com
Bateau a Roue – Royans Vercors http://bateau-a-roue.com/
GRENOBLE http://www.grenoble-tourisme.com/en/
Grenoble is approximately 40 minutes away and as with any major town there are a variety of shops, historical landmarks and museums to visit. Please look up the tourist office website for further information. Listed below is a suggested visit to La Bastille.
La Bastille www.bastille-grenoble.com
LYON http://www.en.lyon-france.com/
Aquarium Du Grand Lyon – http://www.aquariumlyon.fr/
Navig’inter Lyon Croisieres – http://www.lyoncityboat.com/
Musee Gallo Romain Lyo Fourviere – http://www.musees-gallo-romains.com/
Atelier Musee Du Chapeau – http://www.museeduchapeau.com/
VOIRON
Voiron is approximately 30 minutes drive and is a town which offers shops, restaurants and is the home of the Chartreuse.
Caves de la Chartreuse
There are two areas you can visit to see the main liquor that this region is famous for. In Voiron there is a shop and museum or you can visit the caves – further details can be found on their website,
http://www.chartreuse.fr/index.php
VENOSC – Les Deux Alpes www.venosc.com
This village is at the base of Les Deux Alpes and is ideal as a stopping point to have lunch before going onto the white water rafting. There is also rock climbing etc located here.
Alternatively, you can always park here at the base and get the cable car to visit Les Deux Alpes if you prefer not to drive up the main mountain.
VIENNE http://www.vienne-tourisme.com/
SAINT-ANTOINE L’ABBAYE http://www.saint-antoine-labbaye.fr/
OTHER SKI AREAS
All the places below are ski stations but have activities for during the summer period.
Massif de Chartreuse de Saint Hilaire du Touvet http://www.funiculaire.fr/
St Christophe En Oisans www.berarde.com
Chamrousse www.chamrousse.com
LAKES
Lac Paladru (25 minute’s drive away in La Cote St Andre)
http://www.paysvoironnais.info/sports-d-eau.html#.U9_tNfldUuc
This lake is approximately 30 minutes from the house. There are restaurants, water sports and a small man made beach.
AIX LES BAINS – Lac du Bourget http://www.aixlesbains.com/en/home-aix-les-bains.html
This large lake is only 45 minutes away. There are restaurants, motor boat hire, and a beach area for swimming in the lake.
Annecy http://en.lac-annecy.com/
CHILDREN ACTIVITIES 
Zoos
Peaugres Safari and Junior Adventure Park http://www.safari-peaugres.com/
Le domaine des Fauves www.le-domaine-des-fauves.fr
Espace Zoologique http://www.espace-zoologique.com/
Tree Climbing
Parc Oasis Aventura http://parcoasisaventura.free.fr
This is like our children’s second home and was well established long before Go Ape hit the UK. This centre is 30 minutes away.
Cimes Aventures www.cimes-aventures.com
Theme Park
Walibi www.walibi-rhone-alpes.fr
This adventure parc is not on the realms of Thorpe Park but more of a smaller Chessington.
Montelimar
Approx 11/2 hours drive Montelimar is just at the top of the Cote D’Azur and there are three places of interest (if the weather is bad the Crocodile Farm is a good bet for children)
Tricastin Nuclear Site www.office-tourisme-tricastin.com
The Crocodile Farm www.lafermeauxcrocodiles.com
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Chemin de fer de La Mure www.connextradition.com
Jars (Ceramic Pottery Shop) www.jarsceramistes.com
REGIONS SURROUNDING ISERE
LOIRE www.loiretourisme.com
A BOURG D’OISANS http://bourgdoisans.com/?lang=en
AUVERGNE www.auvergne-tourisme.info
L’AIN www.ain-tourisme.com
