LA GRANDE, a famous Carthusian monastery of France, department of Isère, 14 miles N. of Grenoble, occupying the summit of a steep rock in a wildly picturesque district, 4268 feet above the level of the sea. It was founded in 1084, but the present buildings have been erected since 1676. During the revolution the monks were driven out and their property confiscated and sold; but in 1826 it was restored to its original destination, and is still the capital of the Carthusian convents. See Carthusians.

From this mother convent all others of the same order took their name, among which was the Chartreuse of London, corruptly called the Charterhouse. This old monastery in 1611 was converted into a hospital for a master, preacher, second master, 40 boys, and 80 pensioners not under 50 years of age, and endowed with lands then worth about L5000 a year. The boys receive instruction in the classics; and those sent to the university have an exhibition of L20 a year for 8 years, and an immediate title to 9 church livings in the gift of the governors of the hospital, who are sixteen in number. The pensioners have provisions, fire, lodging, a gown of black cloth, and an allowance of money. They are presented by the governors in rotation.