The ESRF benefits from a strategic location on the European Photon & Neutron (EPN) Science Campus, a unique science hub which hosted four major international research institutes devoted to the exploration of living matter and materials.
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Address: ESRF, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/2Dnc1AiBKTYNNVoL6 |
The ESRF is located at the heart of the French Alps, in Grenoble, a cosmopolitan city, a centre of innovation, recognised around the world for its research centres, its universities, its economic vitality. The ESRF is part of the European Photon & Neutron (EPN) Science Campus, a science hub hosting major international institutes for the exploration of living matter and materials (ESRF, ILL, EMBL, IBS). These institutes share a guesthouse, restaurant, library, medical centre and other facilities and services. The campus is served by a bus line and a tram line.
The ESRF is also a partner of GIANT, Grenoble Innovation for Advanced New Technologies, the campus of global innovation and the lifeblood of economic and scientific development in Grenoble.

TRAVELLING TO THE EPN CAMPUS
71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble
ARRIVING BY CAR
The ESRF/ILL/EMBL/IBS site is easily reached by car using the motorway connections.
When coming from Geneva, Chambery or Turin on the A41 motorway, follow the signs for the "Rocade Sud/N87" (the Grenoble ringroad) direction "Lyon". This will take you on to the A480. Continue on the A480 in the direction of "Lyon".
Leave the A480 at exit N°1 for the"Polygone Scientifique". At the roundabout turn right. The entrance to the site will then appear on your right after several hundred metres.
When coming from Lyon or Valence, stay on the A48 when approaching Grenoble, following signs for "Grenoble Bastille-Gares-Europole". Leave the A48 at exit N°16 ("Polygone Scientifique") and cross the suspension bridge over the Isère. At the end of the bridge filter right and turn right, heading north along the Rue des Martyrs (D531). The new site entrance is on the left after a few hundred metres (traffic lights).
ARRIVING BY PLANE
Lyon Saint Exupery International Airport, is the most convenient airport to reach Grenoble. For more information, visit the Lyon Saint Exupéry website (or phone +33 (0) 826 800 826 (0.15€/min)). Lyon Saint Exupery Airport is a one-hour drive from Grenoble and regular shuttle buses operate to and from Grenoble bus station (‘Gare Routière’) or Oxford (closest EPN campus bus stop). The bus transfers from Lyon Saint Exupéry to Grenoble are operated by both Blablacar Bus and Flixbus. Please note that Blablacar and Flixbus reservations are only possible 1 month before your expected travel date. More information about transfers is available on the airport website.
The closest EPN campus bus stop is called Oxford (formerly 'Presqu'île - Place de la Resistance') situated at the roundabout by the 'Pont d'Oxford' (suspension bridge) motorway exit (this is also the stop for local buses EXP 1 & EXP 2). It is less than 10 minutes walk from the EPN Campus.
On your way back to the airport, be sure to use the bus stop near the roundabout on the 'Pont d'Oxford' side of the road from where you got off.
Geneva International Airport is a two-hour drive from the EPN campus. Bus and train connections to Grenoble exist but are not very frequent. The bus transfers from Geneva airport to Grenoble coach station are operated by both Blablacar Bus and Flixbus. Please note that Blablacar and Flixbus reservations are only possible 1 month before your expected travel date.
Visit Geneva International Airport website for more details (or phone +41 22 7177111).
There is also a local airport at St Geoirs (Grenoble Isère Airport, 30-40 minutes from Grenoble) that offers flights from between several UK airports over the winter months. There is a bus from Grenoble Airport to Grenoble bus station that runs according to flight arrival times. The return bus from Grenoble leaves approximately 2h30 before the departure of each flight.
This information is subject to change; please check the Grenoble Isère Airport website for precise times.
ARRIVING BY TRAIN
There are very good train connections from Paris by TGV, the direct, high-speed train (3h).
Please note that seat reservations on the TGV are obligatory.
There are also train connections with Geneva, Chambery, Turin, Valence, Marseilles, Barcelona, etc. Visit the SNCF website for more details (or phone +33 (0)8 36676869).
LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The EPN research site is well connected to the public transport network.
- Tram B links the site to the coach and railway stations and to Grenoble city centre; its terminus - Oxford (formerly Grenoble Presqu'île) - is situated just 350 metres from the site entrance. Grenoble's trams operate 7 days a week, from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. approximately. For detailed timetable, click here.
- The bus service C6 goes to Fontaine, Seyssinet and Seyssins, among other places. It has the same operating hours as the tram (7/7 from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.). It stops at the bus stop 'Martyrs Résistance', which is situated right outside the site entrance. Click here for timetable.
- Bus n° 54 goes to Sassenage and St Egrève. It stops at the bus stop 'Martyrs Résistance', which is situated right outside the site entrance. Click here for timetable.
- Bus n° 22 goes to St Egrève. It stops at the stop Oxford (formerly Grenoble Presqu'île), which is situated 400 m from the site entrance, next to the terminus of tram B. Click here for timetable.
- The bus service 5100 goes to Villard de Lans (Vercors). It also stops at the bus stop 'Martyrs Résistance', right outside the site entrance. See the Transisere website.
- The Transisere bus services Express 1 (Voiron-Grenoble-Crolles) and Express 2 (Voreppe-Champ-près-Froges) stop at Place de la Résistance, 600 m from the site entrance.
LOCAL TAXI SERVICE
Taxis Grenoblois: +33 (0)4 76 54 42 54
or get an estimate at www.taxi-grenoble.fr (French)