The Breathtaking, Sustainable French Alps City That Became One Of The Nation's Most Dangerous

The French Alps boast some of Europe's most idyllic alpine scenery. This lofty landscape of craggy peaks, pristine lakes, open meadows, glaciers, and deep forests is now part of this massive trek that has been called the Pacific Crest Trail's "hotter French cousin." It's also home to a number of historic settlements set in jaw-dropping surroundings, including the city of Grenoble, which has been touted as one of the nation's best places to live.

This southeastern destination of just over 500,000 residents sits in the shadow of the Alps and is known for its natural beauty, great winter sports, and laid-back lifestyle. In recent years it has attracted plenty of tech startups and the young, educated workers that come with them, earning it the moniker "France's Silicon Valley." The city is also an innovation and research hub for sustainable energy and was crowned European Green Capital in 2022.

However, there is trouble in paradise. The city — especially in the suburbs surrounding it — has been plagued by a recent spate of violence, making it among France's most dangerous destinations. This flies in the face of Grenoble's supposed livability, and would certainly make someone think twice about visiting this gem of the southern Alps.

In the summer of 2024, Grenoble was rocked by seven separate shootings in 21 days, a dizzying number for a city of its size in France, where gun ownership is strictly controlled. By September, the number of firearm attacks had spiked to 19. Most of these took place in the suburb of Échirolles, and have been attributed to the gangs who control the local drug trade, many of whom are said to be linked to international syndicates such as the Albanian mafia and Colombian cartels.

How does this other picture-perfect Alps city find itself with a drug violence problem? Some point to its proximity to the port of Marseilles, France's second biggest city and another center for organized crime and drug trafficking. Grenoble lies 169 miles straight up the road from the country's biggest big port, making it a vital distribution point for the contraband flowing in. This, in turn, leads to turf wars, which means violence.

According to recent crime statistics, Grenoble now sits in the top 10 of France's most crime-ridden cities. Police are seemingly powerless to stem the epidemic of gang violence, and many local residents — some of whom moved to the area to enjoy a stress-free lifestyle — now live in fear.

While Grenoble has seen a shocking spike in shootings and other gang-related violence, it's by no means the only place in France grappling with issues of public safety. Marseilles is notoriously rough, topping the list of not just the most dangerous city in France, but also in Europe. Paris too has been rocked by a spate of lawlessness, and other cities affected by France's uptick in crime include Nantes, Montpelier, and Lyon.

Does this mean you shouldn't visit Grenoble, or France as a whole? Of course not, but if you do go, make sure to exercise caution. The vast majority of gang violence happens between people already involved in the drug trade, so if you stay away from that — and also avoid certain neighborhoods that are drug trafficking hotspots — you should be fine.

That said, petty crime and pickpocketing are always an issue in France and Europe as a whole, though there are some simple tricks to avoid falling victim to would-be thieves. There are also safer alternatives to Grenoble in the French Alps, like this underrated destination for a lakeside vacation.