During the French Revolution, Grenoble was rebaptized Grelibre. The people wanted nothing to do with nobles and royalty. “Libre”, which is French for “free,” made the city sound much more revolutionary.
The walnut is Grenoble’s main culinary claim to fame. The little legume comes in three varieties and benefits from an Appellation d’Origine Contrôllée label, just like many wines and cheeses. There is even an insightful walnut museum in Vinay, about half an hour from Grenoble.