Newcomers to Grenoble cannot fail to be struck by the imposing presence of this massive rocky ridgeline. 'That’s Néron', they are told, adding a touch of perplexity at the discovery of such an incongruous name. The desire to find out more about this majestic and intriguing mountain quickly takes hold. The ensuing discovery of the Vercors, Belledonne, and Bastille-Jalla-Rachais ensemble, reveals the unique configuration of a city 'trapped between mountains.' In Claude Simon's book, the reader will find answers to all their questions. Titled simply 'Le Néron,' it could have been called 'Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Néron,' as it gathers knowledge from all areas: geology, fauna, flora, history, ethnology, socio-economics, and, of course, hiking routes. Certainly, climbing this vertiginous mountain is reserved for experienced climbers, but satisfying one’s curiosity is accessible to anyone with this book. A first French edition of 352 pages was published in 2002. The new 400-page (338-page in English) edition contains many additions, including an account of the fire that lasted 33 days in 2003 and left such a lasting impression.
Claude Simon has produced a veritable ‘encyclopaedia’ on this Grenoble curiosity.