ARWInfo on venue

HEART OF THE ALPS

Grenoble is the capital city of the French Alps. Combining the urban life-style of southern France with a unique mountain setting, it is ideally situated for outdoor activities. Proud of its historical heritage, the Grenoble area is today an important centre of industry and science. Dedicated to an ambitious policy in the arts, the city is host to numerous cultural institutions. 

Some useful links: 

• Weather forecast by: MétéoFrance or CNN 
• Tourism and arts 

HOW TO GET TO GRENOBLE - HOW TO GET TO THE ESRF

Motorways link Grenoble with Lyon and Paris, Geneva, Milan, Marseille and Barcelona. At Grenoble, follow signs for "Gares EUROPOLE" or "Polygone scientifique".

The ESRF can be easily reached by car using the motorway connections. When coming from Geneva, Chambery, Turin ... on the A41 motorway, take the 'Rocade Sud' (Lyon direction) which takes you onto the N87 and subsequently the A480. Then take the exit no. 1 of the A480. At the first roundabout turn right, then drive about 1 km and turn right again at the two next roundabouts.

When coming from Lyon or Valence, first keep to the A48 (direction Grenoble Bastille - Gares - Europole), then take the exit no. 16 of the A48 (Polygone Scientifique). After crossing the bridge continue straight on at the first roundabout and then turn right at the second roundabout.

ARRIVING BY PLANE

Geneva International Airport is more than a two hour drive from Grenoble. Bus and train connections to Grenoble exist but are not so frequent. Visit the website of Geneva International Airport for more details.

Lyon's International Airport (St Exupery, formerly Satolas) is the closest to Grenoble. Visit the Lyon St website for more information.

St Exupery is a one hour drive by car from Grenoble and regular bus shuttles operate to and from Grenoble bus station (Gare Routière) timetable satobus.

The bus station is close to the town centre and a few minutes away from the Workshop Hotels.

There is also a regional airport at St Geoirs (40 minutes from Grenoble) that you may use if you are flying via Paris (about 4 flights a day from Orly airport). See the Grenoble Airport website for further details.

There are very good train connections from Lyon (100 km) and Paris (450 km) by TGV, the direct, high-speed train. 
Please note that seat reservations on the TGV are obligatory, and should be made when you buy your ticket. 
There are also ordinary train connections with Geneva, Chambery, Turin, Valence, Marseille, Barcelona etc. Visit the SNCF's website for more details.

IMPORTANT

All participants that enter the ESRF site other than with the arw shuttle will have to comply to site entrance formalities. Please contact the ARW organisers beforehand (ARW@esrf.fr) if you plan to come by car to the ESRF site.

WORKSHOP HOTELS

The ARW organisers have obtained 53 pre-reserved rooms in four selected 'Workshop Hotels' for the nights of Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th, Wednesday, 6th February 2002.

• 15 rooms in the Europe
• 13 rooms in the Terminus
• 15 rooms in the Europole
• 10 rooms in the Suisse & Bordeaux

See Hotel Details for more information on rates, facilities, contact, etc.

IMPORTANT
These pre-reservations will be maintained until December. They will then be revised (reduced) in the light of the number of firm reservations obtained by these hotels. To be certain that you get a room in a 'Workshop Hotel' you should preferably book before December.

These hotels are all very close to the Grenoble bus station, the railway station (SNCF), the town centre, and the ARW shuttle pick-up point.

IMPORTANT
The ARW organisers will NOT deal with any hotel reservation. Please contact the hotel of your choice directly and make a personal reservation. When doing this, be sure to inform the hotel that you are attending ARW to benefit from the conditions and rates negociated for the Workshop. Alternatively, you may choose other hotels or accommodation for your stay in Grenoble. However, the ARW organisers will NOT provide any transport service other than that for the four 'Workshop Hotels' indicated above.

SHUTTLE SERVICES BETWEEN THE 'WORKSHOP HOTELS' AND THE ESRF SITE
Special coaches will provide the ARW participants staying in either of the four 'Workhop Hotels' with easy transport to the ESRF site in the morning and back to their hotels in the evening. The shuttle pick-up point is very close to the hotels. See the ARW-Hotels map for full details.

The same shuttle pick-up point will be used for transport to the banquet venue on Tuesday evening, and return afterwards. In the morning, the coaches will leave at 8.15hrs. It takes less than ten minutes to reach the ESRF site.

IMPORTANT
All ARW participants entering the ESRF site with the ARW shuttle have the benefit of a smooth and quick entrance without going through the official site-entrance formalities. Participants are asked to wear their ARW badge whilst on the site.

All participants who do not use the shuttle, such as those entering by car (private or hired), should contact the ARW organisers (ARW@esrf.fr) beforehand in order to obtain information on entrance formalities.