(the ancient Gratianopolis), a fortified city of France, formerly capital of Dauphiné, now of the department of Isère, is pleasantly situated on the Isère, just above its confluence with the Drac, in a basin surrounded by lofty mountains, 58 miles S.E. of Lyons. The city proper, or larger portion, occupies the left bank of the river, and is connected with the opposite bank by two bridges, one of stone, the other an iron chain bridge. This portion of the town is surrounded by bastioned ramparts, and has a citadel; it contains several good squares, and the houses are three or four storeys in height, with flat, tiled roofs; but the streets are narrow, though well paved and regular. The portion on the right bank, called the Faubourg St Laurent, consists chiefly of one spacious street, immediately behind which rises an abrupt mountain studded with fortifications to the height of 918 feet above the river. From the summit of this mountain an extensive view of the surrounding country is obtained. This part of Grenoble was formerly surrounded by an ancient wall, which has recently been demolished, and its place is now occupied by a fine promenade. The river is bounded on both sides by handsome quays, along which extend lines of elegant houses. This town has been much enlarged and improved of late years; and it is proposed to extend it considerably, and reconstruct the fortifications so as to inclose a much larger space of ground. The public buildings are not remarkable. The cathedral is a heavy, ungainly structure, partly ancient and partly modern. There are several public walks and handsome fountains. The court-house is the most interesting old building in the town, having been originally the palace of the dauphin. One of the most pleasing features of the town is its extensive and well laid out public garden, on the left bank of the Isère. In the Place St André is a bronze colossal statue of Bayard the "chevalier sans peur et sans reproche," who was interred in a contiguous church. It has a public library, with 60,000 vols.; a college; museums of natural history and antiquities; a picture gallery; botanic garden; schools of medicine, artillery, and design; and societies of agriculture, science, art, &c. The chief manufactures are kid gloves, for which it is specially noted; chamois and other leathers; liqueurs, &c. It has some trade, by means of the river, in hemp, iron, timber, and marble. Grenoble occupies the site of the ancient Cularo, the name of which was subsequently changed to Gratianopolis in honour of the Emperor Gratian. This was the first place that openly received Napoleon on his return from Elba in 1815. Pop. (1851) 26,852.