Guide for Newcomers to Grenoble
E
R
O
N
L
B
ETA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
• Taxis 24
Welcome to Grenoble 4
• Airports 25
• Airport Transfers 25
•• Money 25
• Opening a bank account 25
• Payment 25
•• Income taxes in France 26
•• Tourism 26
•• Communication 27
• Telephone 27
• Wifi and land line 27
• La Poste 27
•• Grenoble: a few statistics 5
• The sectors of the ciꢀ 6
• The map of the ciꢀ centre 8
•• Ressources for foreigners 9
• Population by current nationaliꢀ in 2008 9
• The role of the International Relations
Department : to enhance town • La Maison de l’International : a municipal ressource center to welcome foreigners 10
•• Introduction 5
•• The territory 6
• La Métro 7
twinnings and cooperations 9
Studies 28
• International organisations 11
• CCREG 11
•• The French Education System 29
•• Welcoming students associations 32
•• Information centre for students, researchers arriving in Grenoble 32
•• Recognition of diplomas 33
•• Pre-school childcare 29
•• International Schools 29
•• Universities 31
• Other International structures 11
• Language lessons 11
• Translations and interpreting 11
• Consulates 12
•• Grants 34
Culture 13
•• Main Annual Events 14
•• Academy of Grenoble 14
•• MC2 (Maison de la culture) 14
•• Theater of Grenoble 14
•• Foreign Language Libraries 14
•• Museums 14
Working in Grenoble 35
•• Working in France 36
•• The right to work in France 36
• Pôle emploi and EURES 37
• Temporary work agencies 37
•• Finding work 37
• Kompass Database 37
• Young people 38
Practical life 15
• Hostels and Hotels 16
• Renting a flat 16
•• Accommodation 16
• People over 25 38
• Part time jobs / Summer jobs 38
•• Starting a business 38
• Financial assistance (CAF) 16
• Problems 17
• Estate Agents 17
Asylum Seekers 39
• Relocation Organisations 17
• Foreign Students’ Services 17
• Services for Researchers 17
•• Administrative procedures for asylum seekers 40
•• Meals 40
•• Washing 41
•• Shopping 18
•• Media 18
•• Medical Care 41
•• Leisure Time 19
• Families, young people and children 19
• Sport 20
• Winter Sports 20
•• Transport 21
• Public transport: TAG 21
• SNCF- Trains 21
• Transisère buses 22
• Bicycle 23
• Cars 23
• Rental Cars 24
Administration 42
•• Residence Permit 42
•• French Nationaliꢀ 42
•• Social Securiꢀ 42
•• Civic Rights 43
•• Health – Hospitals 44
Useful addresses 44
•• Emergency Numbers 44
• Covoiturage (car sharing) 24
• CitéLib 24
•• Glossary of Important French Terms 45
Appendices 45
WELCOME TO GRENOBLE
4Titre page active •• Introduction •• Grenoble: a few statistics
Grenoble is known as “the capital of the Alps”, it is nestled between three mountain ranges, (Source: INSEE 2012) the Belledonne, the Chartreuse and the Vercors. The ciꢀ is most famous for having hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1968, being the childhood home of the famous writer, Stendhal, and being a centre for the Resistance during the Second World War.
Grenoble’s metropolitan population: 404 176
Isère’s population: 1 197 038
(Source: INSEE 2009 Census)
First centre of research aꢁer the Ile-de-France area
More than 62,000 students, including 14% of foreigners (1 inhabitant out of 8)
For more information:
Prestigious universities, 6 Engineering Schools
2 Business schools, 1 Institute for political studies
More than 21,000 public and private researchers
220 research laboratories
40,000 direct jobs in Information and Communication technologies (ICT)
20,000 direct jobs in life sciences
In Grenoble, 1 out of 6 jobs is linked to research
International schools
Approximately 60 different international communities
A broad range of cultural and sporting activities
Marie-Henri Beyle, dit Stendhal,
Johan-Olaf Sodemark (1840). Château de Versailles
Ranked the best ciꢀ to study in France
(L’Étudiant 2013-2014)
Fiꢁh most inventive ciꢀ in the World (Forbes magazine 2013)
5Welcome to Grenoble
The main ciꢀ hall is located
11, boulevard Jean-Pain in Grenoble.
• The sectors of the ciꢀ
Antennes-Mairies in each of Grenoble sector
The Antennes-Mairie are in charge of the administration of each neighbourhood in the ciꢀ. Citizens can go to the Antenne-
Mairie of their neighbourhood to solve their administrative problems, for example: enrolling in school, acquiring licenses to sell alcohol, registering to vote, parking permits etc.
The Antenne-Mairie is also responsible for the maintenance of streets and squares.
Your place of residence determines your ciꢀ
Sector and your Antenne-Mairie.
Source:
“Antennes-Mairies” in each of Grenoble sector
Sector 1 Chorier Berriat
Sector 2 centre ville
Sector 3 Mistral Rondeau Libération Eaux-Claires
Sector 4 Capuche Alliés Alpins Bajatière
Sector 5 Abbaye Jouhaux Teisseire
Sector 6 Géants - Le Patio 97, galerie Arlequin
10, rue Abbé Gregoire
1 bis, place de Gordes
68 bis, rue Anatole France
70, rue de Stalingrad
55, rue Léon Jouhaux
To help find your sector: (only available in French) hꢀpꢁ//sig.ville.gouv.fr/
6Welcome to Grenoble • La Métro
The Grenoble Alpes Métropole metropolitan communiꢀ, commonly called la Métro, is made up of 28 municipalities which have opted to work together to achieve some common objectives.
In 2014, La Métro will merge with Sud
Grenoblois (composed of 16 communes) and Balcon Sud Chartreuse (composed of 5 communes).
The new Grenoble Alpes Métropole will consist of 49 communes and 432 916 inhabitants.
It represents 400.000 inhabitants.
Every urban communiꢀ is required by the French Local Government Code of Practice to assume certain functions as a communiꢀ (economic development, planning of public spaces, social
Voiron
Chambery
Lyon balance in housing and ciꢀ policy).
Valence
VEUREY-VOROIZE
Chambery
Albertville
LE FONTANIL-
CORNILLON
Three of the six functions listed below must also be integrated throughout
NOYAREY
Chambery
Albertville
SAINT-EGREVE the entire metro area (roads and parking, sanitation, water, environment, social action, cultural facilities and/or sports). The choice of these functions is decided by the municipal councils.
CORENC
SAINT MARTIN-
LE-VINOUX
MEYLAN
SASSENAGE
LA
TRONCHE tram
B
DOMENE tram
B
MURIANETTE tram
C
trAam
FONTAINE
GIERES tram
C
GRENOBLE
SEYSSINET-PARISET
SAINT MARTIN
D'HERES
trAam
Since becoming a metropolitan area in 2000, la Métro operates in several areas according to the local agglomeration project:
- Transportation
POISAT
Uriage
Chamrousse
Vizille
SEYSSINS
EYBENS
ECHIROLLES
LE
PONT
DE
CLAIX
CLAIX
Vizille
Briançon
Gap
- Environment
- Habitat
VARCES-ALLIERES ET RISSET
- Urban Policy
- Daily Life
- Economic Development and Innovation
Vizille
Briançon
Gap
SAINT-PAUL DE VARCES
VIF
This means that la Métro is responsible for a diverse range of activities such as, for example, picking up and recycling rubbish, providing social housing, funerary services, sewage services, creating new and improved
LE GUA
Grenoble Alpes
Metropole in 2013
Sisteron cycle paths and taking care of stray animals.
Source:
Source: La Métro:
7Welcome to Grenoble
8Welcome to Grenoble
• Population by current nationaliꢀ in the Isère
Department and Rhône-Alpes Region
(Source: RP 2008, lieu de résidence - Exploitation principale)
Isère Rhône-Alpes
Europe 1 151 247 5 899 359
1 051 174 5 423 557
69 204 306 835
28 578 134 714
including French by birth including French by acquisition
Inclusing European Union (27 countries)
Asia 11 312 59 158
Africa 23 748 148 003
America 2 230 10 038
Total Population 1 188 660 6 117 229
Oceania 123 671
sous_theme=1
• The role of the International
Relations Department : to enhance town twinnings and cooperations
TOWN TWINNINGS
AND COOPERATIONS
Since the 1960s, the Ciꢀ of Grenoble has set up many sister-ciꢀ links, thus proving its aꢂachment to its inhabitants of foreign origin.
In the same spirit, it has promoted cultural, school and sports exchanges over the years.
The ciꢀ of Grenoble is helped by the sisterciꢀ commiꢂees and non-profit organisations that organise exchanges between citizens, associations, sports clubs, etc. The International Relations and Universiꢀ-
Research department’s role is to initiate projects and co-operation agreements, in partnership with local associations and members of the economic, cultural and social environment.
Catane, Italy – 1961
Innsbruck, Austria – 1963
Sfax, Tunisia – 1968
Essen, Germany – 1976
Halle, Germany – 1976
Chisinau, Moldova – 1977
Rehovot, Israel – 1984
Oxford, United Kingdom – 1984
Phoenix, United-States – 1990
Pécs, Hungary – 1992
Stendal, Germany – 1992
Bethlehem, Palestine – 1996
Kaunas, Lithuania -1997
Suzhou, China – 1998
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – 1999
Constantine, Algeria - 1999
Corato, Italy – 2002
The ciꢀ of Grenoble also relies on the network of members of the consular corps and keeps close ties with the consuls present in Grenoble and its region.
The Ciꢀ is also involved in European projects and networks in the field of innovation, social economy and green energies.
Oujda, Morroco – 2009
Tsukuba, Japan – 2013
hꢀpꢁ//
9Welcome to Grenoble EUROPE DIRECT
La Maison de l’International also houses a Europe Direct information centre (CIED: centre d’information Europe Direct) which provides information about the European Union.
Europe Direct can provide you with:
- General information about EU maꢂers in any of the official EU languages
- An answer to your questions on any
European Union policy
- Advice to help you overcome practical problems with exercising your rights in
Europe
Parvis des droits de l’Homme
1, rue Hector Berlioz
Jardin de Ville
38000 Grenoble
• La Maison de l’International
europedirectgrenoble@ville-grenoble.fr
Twiꢀerꢁ @ciedgrenoble
La Maison de l’International is an international information centre which can assist foreigners who have recently seꢂled in Grenoble, provide information on language courses, international associations, events taking place in town and information for people who wish to work, study or volunteer abroad. It also has a selection of international newspaper and magazine subscriptions which the public is free to consult on the premises.
AMERICAN CORNER
In October 2012, the Ciꢀ of Grenoble in partnership with US Embassy opened an “American Corner” based in La Maison de l’International. This structure aims to serve as a point of information for people wishing to learn more about the United States or to go there to study or work for example. The centre will host frequent events both for the general public and for the large American communiꢀ based in and around Grenoble.
EVENTS
In addition, La Maison de l’International regularly holds exhibitions and conferences related to international projects, and supports the international twinning of the Ciꢀ.
grenoble@acgmail.com
Twiꢀerꢁ @grenobleac
100-maison-de-l-internationnal.htm
mi@ville-grenoble.fr
CONSULAR OFFICE
La Maison de l’International hosts a consular office where the Consuls of the circonscription can meet their nationals by appointment and organise meetings.
10 Welcome to Grenoble • International associations • Other international structures
Hundreds of international associations are active in Grenoble. Many of them are in Grenoble: composed of representatives of foreign communities and can have useful information for newcomers to Grenoble.
Several other international structures also exist The Alliance Française offers many different kinds of activities based on French culture as well as French lessons for all levels.
You can get in touch with organizations, join them and become involved in projects.
Alliance Française
7, rue Elisée Châtin
38100 Grenoble
Tel. 04 76 56 25 84
contact@afgrenoble.org
The list of these associations is available on the following website:
100-maison-de-l-internationnal.htm
You can also consult them on the ciꢀ of Grenoble’s website: hꢀpꢁ//associations.grenoble.fr/
408-annuaire.htm
• Language Courses
You can ask in La Maison de l’International for the list of associations, academies and centres that provide French courses for foreigners and lessons in foreign languages. Or you can download the list from the Ciꢀ of Grenoble’s website:
Maison des associations (MDA)
6, rue Berthe de Boissieux
38000 Grenoble
Tel: 04 76 87 91 90
relation.monde-associatif@ville-grenoble.fr
• Advisory Council of foreign residents in Grenoble - CCREG (Conseil
Consultatif des Résidents Etrangers
Grenoblois)
• Translations and interpreting
Translation Services
ADATE
5, place Sainte-Claire
38000 Grenoble
Tel: 04 76 44 92 71
Fax: 04 76 63 80 10
service.juridique@adate.org
Répertoire Cour d’appel:
CA_Grenoble_20131009.pdf
The CCREG aims to create a space for foreigners who are interested in local issues.
More than 70 foreign nationalities are represented in the communal territory, of which 68% come from countries outside of the European Union. 15 nationalities are represented in the CCREG, which shows the ciꢀ’s diversiꢀ.
In spite of the fact that people coming from non-EU countries participate in the life of the ciꢀ, they are not allowed to vote due to their nationaliꢀ. The CCREG was created in
July 2000 to compensate for this democratic deficit.
Association d’Experts traducteurs de la
Région Rhône-Alpes
88, cours Jean Jaures
38000 Grenoble
Tel: 04.76.49.73.38
Fax: 04.76.84.08.75
ajlani@aol.com
Inter Services Migrants (Lyon)
ccreg@ville-grenoble.fr
11 Welcome to Grenoble Consulat Honoraire de Norvège (Norway)
12, rue Pierre Sémard (c/o Grenoble École de
Management)
• Consulates
Located in Grenoble:
BP 127 38003 Grenoble Cedex 1
Tel. 04 76 70 60 40 Fax 04 76 70 62 23
thierry.grange@grenoble-em.com
Consulat d’Algérie (Algeria)
6, chemin du Commerce
38100 Grenoble
Tel. 04 76 54 30 18
courrier@consulat-algerie-grenoble.org
Consulat de San Marin
10, rue de Belgrade
38000 Grenoble
Consulat de Grèce (Greece)
9, rue de la Liberté
38000 Grenoble
Tel. 04 76 46 36 82
Fax 04 76 47 07 60
san.marino@wanadoo.fr
Tel. 04 76 47 39 23 Fax 04 76 47 37 76
consulat.grece.grenoble@wanadoo.fr
Consulat honoraire de Slovaquie (Slovakia)
Maison de l’International
1, rue Hector Berlioz
38000 Grenoble
Tel. 04 76 88 25 43
Guichet du Consulat d’Italie (Italy)
47, avenue Alsace-Lorraine
38000 Grenoble
Tel. 04 76 46 15 68 Fax 04 76 47 76 61
grenoble.lione@esteri.it
menyhert.kocsis@gmail.com
Consulat de Tunisie (Tunisia)
4, rue Alexandre 1er de Yougoslavie
38000 Grenoble
Tel. 04 76 43 26 01
Fax 04 76 43 25 96
c.t.grenoble@wanadoo.fr
Consulat de Lituanie (Lithuania)
Maison de l’International
1, rue Hector Berlioz
38000 Grenoble
psf2607@wanadoo.fr
For more information about consulates in
France:
Ambassades-et-consulats-etrangers-en-
France/
12 Welcome to Grenoble CULTURE
13 Titre page active •• Foreign Language Libraries
April: Festival du film gay et lesbien - Gay and lesbian film festival
Spring: contemporary world music festival
Babel Detour
International Library
The International Library is part of Grenoble’s municipal library network composed of 14 libraries. Open to children as well as adults, it contains collections in Arabic, English, French,
German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
May: Festival “Les arts du récit en Isère” – story-telling festival
21st June: La fête de la musique – national music fair
Bibliothèque Municipale Internationale
6, place de Sfax
38000 Grenoble
June - July: Festival du Court Métrage – Short
films festival
Tel: 04 38 12 25 41
14th July: Fête nationale – national holiday /
Bastille Day
E-mail: bm.internationale@bm-grenoble.fr
July: On dirait le Sud - Music festival –(mainly african)
Association Babel
July: Jeune théâtre Européen - Encounters of Young European Theatre
July – August: Cabaret Frappé – summer music festival
September: Les Journées du patrimoine –
European Patrimony days
October: Rocktambule – rock festival
A library with 5000 books in English, which works in collaboration with Open House and l’Alliance Grenoble-Oxford. It is open 5 days a week.
Association Babel
2, rue Sainte Ursule
38000 Grenoble
•• Museums
association.babel@laposte.net
List of websites of the museums in Grenoble:
350-museums.htm
•• Main Annual Events
March: Le printemps du livre – Book fair
March - April: Quartiers libres – cultural outdoor performances
April: Arts mêlés – students’ arts and culture festival on campus
•• Academy of Grenoble
(Conservatoire)
Proposes courses in the fields of dance, theatre and music
April: Festiv’art - Art festival in the streets
•• MC2 (Maison de la Culture)
Offers performances of dance, music and theatre
•• Theatre of Grenoble
14 Culture
The Museum of Grenoble
15 Titre page active •• Accommodation
The Bail
• Hostels and Hotels
You will need to sign a lease, or a bail, in order to prove that you rent your flat legally. The bail will fix the conditions for rent payments, terms of rental etc. Both the tenant and the owner or rental agency must sign the bail.
Be aware that you may have to pay rental charges on top of your rent, check before you sign the bail.
Youth Hostel
10, avenue du Grésivaudan
38130 Échirolles
Tel: 04 76 09 33 52
Fax: 04 76 09 38 99
For hotels, consult the Grenoble Tourist
Information website (available in English):
Insurance
Housing insurance is compulsory in France.
Some young peoples’ bank accounts (under
25) offer housing insurance for 1 Euro when you open an account with them.
• Renting a flat
Colocation
Flat sharing is becoming increasingly popular in Grenoble. Some useful websites:
Housing Tax
Unless you live in a universiꢀ residence or a room in a personal residence, you are obliged to pay the housing tax, which is the equivalent of council tax in the UK. You should get a leꢂer from the tax office, if you don’t, it’s important to declare yourself before you leave otherwise
they can raise the tax by 10%.
Source: Guide pour les étudiants étrangers à Grenoble
2009/2010
For more technical aspects of renting a flat
(insurance, contracts, charges, notice etc.)
Consult the universiꢀ’s website:
• Financial assistance (CAF)
The Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF -
Family allowance office) grants help (APL) for rent payments. It also provides benefits for people with dependant children.
You can contact the CAF at:
Caisse d’Allocations Familiales
3, rue des Alliés
38051 Grenoble
Tel. 0 820 25 38 10
16 Practical life Every year, l’Université de Grenoble holds an information fair to help new students find accommodation and seꢂle in to life in the ciꢀ.
The fair takes place during summer.
• Problems
In case of problems in your accommodation, the CLCV is a national association representing tenants and joint owners.
Étudiant! Bienvenue à Grenoble!
CLCV 38
ADIIJ-Pôle jeunesse
16, boulevard Auguꢀe Sembat
38000 Grenoble
Tel: 04 56 52 85 22
E-mail: bienvenue@grenoble-univ.fr
Confédération de la Consommation, du Logement et du Cadre de Vie
31, rue Alfred de Musset
38100 Grenoble
Tel: 04 76 22 06 38
E-mail: clcv@wanadoo.fr
The CROUS is a Services Centre for Students, which provides students with information about non-academic maꢂers.
CROUS DSE
351, allée Berlioz
• Estate Agents
Estate Agents in Grenoble can help you find a properꢀ to buy or to rent. Be aware that if you rent properꢀ through an agency you will have to pay agency fees which are usually the equivalent of at least 1 month’s rent.
Domaine Universitaire
38400 Saint-Martin-d’Hères Cedex
Tél. 04 56 52 88 03 (speciꢁ department)
Tram B Les Taillées stop
Tram C Berlioz stop
For more information:
• Relocation Organisations
E-mobilia:
ETC Logos: hꢀpꢁ//etcgrenoblerelocation.blogspot. fr/2011/11/cest-la-folie.html
• Services for Researchers
Personalized welcome, assistance and help throughout the year for international students, doctoral student and research scholars: accomodation, visa and residence permits, practuical maꢂers concerning everyday life, documentation resources.
LC Mobiliꢀ:
• Foreign Students’ Services
Mondays to Fridays from 9.a.m. to 5.p.m.
(6.p.m. in September)
International Students and Scholars Office
1025, avenue Centrale
Domaine Universitaire
38400 Saint-Martin-d’Hères/Gières
Tel: 04 76 82 84 90
E-mail: isso@grenoble-univ.fr hꢀpꢁ//international.grenoble-univ.fr
International Students and Scholars Office
1025, avenue Centrale
38400 Saint-Martin-d’Hères
Tel: 04 76 82 84 90
E-mail: isso@grenoble-univ.fr hꢀpꢁ//international.grenoble-univ.fr
17 Practical life •• Shopping •• Media
It can be very difficult to work out opening hours for shops and businesses in France when you first arrive. If they are open on a Saturday then they will generally be closed one day in the week, usually a Monday but occasionally other days. Many shops and businesses will be shut for two hours for lunch between around 12 and 2pm.
Websites
AngoInfoAlps:
Website about life in the French Alps for
English speakers hꢀpꢁ//frenchalps.angloinfo.com/information
Online English language “magazine”
Grenoble Life:
For information about shops in France:
page/Shopping-in-France.aspx
Blog about life in Grenoble for anglophone women:
Markets
Onda Italia:
A marché is a market, usually for food. There are marchés that take place all over Grenoble
Tuesday – Sunday until around 1pm.
The most famous non-food market is located on Place Saint-Bruno, at the marché Saint-
Bruno you will find some fantastic bargains for all kinds of items.
Website for Italians in Grenoble
GreNet:
A website about local news and events
Local newspapers
For the addresses of markets in Grenoble:
Les Affiches
Each Friday, Les affiches provides information for people in the Isère about cultural activities in the region.
A troc is an informal kind of market where you can barter over second hand items. There are usually several trocs a year, in general, for clothes or sports’ equipment.
A brocante is the equivalent of a flea market where people sell second-hand items. If you want to participate in a brocante as a seller, you have to register in advance.
On sale at your local newsagent.
Dauphiné Liberé
Newspaper with all the news from Grenoble and the Isère.
On sale at your local newsagent.
Free newspapers
First Saturday of the month:
Brocante Hoche
Place Hoche in Grenoble
20 minutes
A free local newspaper, distributed every morning, Monday to Friday, at tram stops.
Second Sundays (March, June, October, and December):
The brocante Saint-Laurent
Quais Perrière and Mounier in Grenoble. hꢀpꢁ//vide-greniers.org/agendaDepartement. php?departement=38
Grenews
Free weekly newspaper published every
Wednesday morning at tram stops.
18 Practical life Cultural activities
•• Leisure Time
Le petit bulletin
• Families, young people and children
Weekly free magazine with the cultural programme of the ciꢀ: films, music, theatre, conferences, etc.
Grenoble has set up around 40 structures, such as Houses for Youth and culture (called in French MJC, Maisons de l’enfance, Maisons pour tous), which are run by associations and organise activities for local people of all ages.
Available outside shops.
Si nous sortions
Magazine published every 6 months, where you can find a complete cultural agenda.
On sale at your local newsagent.
For more information: