Our hotel
has a history
The Grenette Square has always been and still is today the main square of the city. In the past, the square was Grenoble’s grain market, hence its name. A few centuries later, in the 1800s, Grenette Square underwent modernization. Cafés, restaurants, and small shops flourished. Built in 1820, the Hotel de l’Europe is the oldest hotel in the capital of the Alps. Originally a carriage relay, the Hotel de l’Europe attracted the high society of the time. In the past, the ground floor of the establishment was a vast restaurant highly appreciated by both locals and travelers.
In the late 19th century, a period of significant industrial and demographic growth, the horse-drawn carriages and omnibuses that had been in place for a century were no longer sufficient. Thus, in 1897, Grenette Square became the terminus for the first tramway in Grenoble. Hotel de l’Europe followed suit and modernized as well. At the end of the 19th century, it became equipped with the city’s very first hydraulic elevator, making it one of Grenoble’s flagship addresses. Throughout the ages, Hotel de l’Europe has managed to preserve its style and the typical charm of the turn of the century.
