Néron

Newcomers to Grenoble cannot fail to be struck by the imposing presence of this massive rocky ridgeline. « That's Néron, » they are told, adding a touch of perplexity at the discovery of such an incongruous name to their amazement at the ruggedness of this limestone mountain.

The ensuing discovery of the Vercors, Belledonne, and Bastille-Jalla-Rachais ensemble, reveals the unigue configuration of a city « trapped between mountains. »

The desire to find out more about this majestic and intriguing mountain quickly takes hold.

In Claude Simon's book, the reader will find answers to all their questions. Titled simply « Le Néron, » it could have been called « Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Néron, » as it gathers knowledge from all aspects: geology, fauna, flora, history, ethnology, socio-economics, and, of course, hiking routes. Certainly, climbing this dizzying mountain is reserved for experienced climbers, but satisfying one's curiosity is accessible to anyone with this book.

A first French edition of 352 pages was published in 2002. The new 400-page (338-page in English) edition contains many additions, including an account of the fire that lasted 33 days in 2003 and left such a lasting impression.

Claude Simon has produced a veritable « encyclopaedia » on this Grenoble curiosity.