'Isère' (
Arpitan: ''Isera'',
Occitan: ''Isèra'') is a
department, in the
Rhône-Alpes ('''Rôno-Arpes''' in
Arpitan)
region in the east of
France named after the
Isère River.
History
Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the
French Revolution on
March 4,
1790. It was created from part of the
former province of
Dauphiné. Its area has been reduced twice, in
1852 and again in 1967.
Isère was also the name of the French ship which delivered the 214 boxes holding the
Statue of Liberty.
Geography
Isère is part of the current region of
Rhône-Alpes and is surrounded by the department of
Rhône,
Ain,
Savoie,
Hautes-Alpes,
Drôme,
Ardèche, and
Loire.
Isère includes a part of the French
Alps. The highest point in the department is the summit of
La Meije at 3,987 meters. The
Vercors Plateau dominates the west of the department.
Demographics
Inhabitants of the department are called ''Isérois''.
Culture
The
Grande Chartreuse is the mother abbey of the
Carthusian order. It is located 14 miles north of Grenoble.
As early as the
13th century, residents of the north and central parts of Isère spoke a dialect of the
Franco-Provençal language called
Dauphinois. It continued to be spoken in rural areas of Isère into the
20th century.
Tourism
Isère features many
ski resorts, including the
Alpe d'Huez and
Les Deux Alpes. It also hosts
Coupe Icare, an annual festival of free flight, such as
paragliding and
hang-gliding, held at the world-renowned paragliding site at
Lumbin.
Miscellaneous Topics
Isère produces the following cheeses:
Bleu du Vercours-Sassenage, an
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée cheese, and
Saint-Marcellin.
See also
★
Grenoble - Capital
★
Arpitan language (also known as
Franco-Provençal language)
★
Cantons of the Isère department
★
Communes of the Isère department
★
Arrondissements of the Isère department
★
French language
External links
★
General Council website
★
Grenoble-Isère Airport
★
Prefecture website
★
Encyclopedia article about the Grande Chartreuse
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