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Stendhal's Birthplace: A Literary Pilgrimage

Step into the world of Stendhal at his birthplace in Grenoble, a museum celebrating the life and work of the celebrated French author.

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Visit the childhood home of famed French author Stendhal (Henri Beyle) in Grenoble. This 18th-century apartment offers a glimpse into his early life and the bourgeois setting that shaped his literary beginnings.

A brief summary to Appartement natal de Stendhal

Local tips

  • Check the opening hours with the Grenoble Tourist Office or the Bibliothèque Municipale de Grenoble before visiting.
  • Explore the surrounding old town of Grenoble, with its charming streets and historical buildings.
  • Visit the Musée Stendhal / Appartement Gagnon to complement your understanding of Stendhal's life and works.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From Place Grenette, a central square in Grenoble, walk north along Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The Appartement natal de Stendhal is located at number 14, a short walk of approximately 5 minutes. The building is on the right-hand side of the street. No costs are involved.

  • Public Transport

    From Grenoble train station, take tram line A or B to the Hubert Dubedout-Maison du Tourisme stop. From there, walk north on Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau for about 3 minutes. The Appartement natal de Stendhal will be on your right. A single tram ticket costs €1.67 and is valid for one hour, allowing for connections.

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Discover more about Appartement natal de Stendhal

The Appartement natal de Stendhal, located at 14 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Grenoble, France, is the birthplace of Henri Beyle, better known as the celebrated 19th-century writer Stendhal. Born in this apartment on January 23, 1783, Stendhal spent his early years here, a period he vividly recounts in his autobiographical work, *Vie de Henry Brulard*. The apartment, typical of the bourgeois residences of old Grenoble, belonged to the family of Stendhal's father, Chérubin Beyle, a lawyer. For young Henri, this home was a place of happiness until the death of his mother, Henriette Gagnon, in 1790. Subsequently, it became a place of study where he was subjected to the strict discipline of his tutor, Abbé Raillane. It was in the drawing-room overlooking what was then the Rue des Vieux Jésuites (now Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau) that the 12 or 13-year-old Stendhal penned his first literary attempt, *Selmours*. In 2002, the City of Grenoble transformed this symbolic apartment into a living space dedicated to reading and writing, managed by the Municipal Library. Today, the apartment hosts literary events, writing residencies, and public activities such as reading groups and writing workshops. While the apartment now houses administrative and pedagogical offices for the Musée Stendhal, its historical significance remains palpable. Although it may not be fully open for tours, its facade and historical context make it a point of interest for literary enthusiasts. The Musée Stendhal extends beyond the birthplace to include the Musée Stendhal / Appartement Gagnon, a historical route in Grenoble's old center, and the Stendhal collections of the Bibliothèque d'étude et du patrimoine.

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