Victor Hugo square

This beautiful green square is a tribute to Victor Hugo, who died the year it was inaugurated. It used to be the site of military barracks and the old city walls. At the end of the 19th century, when the barracks were moved and the ramparts demolished, it was decided to use the space left behind to create a pleasant square surrounded by beautiful buildings. Yet when the land around the square came up for sale, no one was interested! The people of Grenoble thought of it as too remote! As a result, the city council had to re-sell the land at a much lower price. A wise move for those who invested then! During the Belle Époque, the locals particularly enjoyed the café-concerts set up around the square, and it ended up becoming a popular meeting place in the city. Today, thanks to recent renovations and the planting of new trees and shrubs, the square is once again a lively green space. On the opposite side of the fountain, you can admire the statue of Hector Berlioz, a writer and composer from the Isère region.