Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during theFrench Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was established from the main part of theformer province ofDauphiné.[6] Its area was reduced twice, in 1852 and again in 1967, on both occasions losing territory to the department ofRhône.
Most recently, on 1 April 1971,Colombier-Saugnieu was transferred to Rhône. Banners appeared in the commune's three little villages at the time proclaimingDauphinois toujours ("Always Dauphinois").
Isère includes a part of theFrench Alps. The highest point in the department is the subpeak Pic Lory at 4,088 metres (13,412 feet), subsidiary to the 4,102 metres (13,458 feet)Barre des Écrins in the adjoiningHautes-Alpes department. The summit ofLa Meije at 3,988 metres (13,084 feet) is also well known. TheVercors Plateau aesthetically dominates the western part of the department.
In2024, all the Renaissance and Democratic Movement candidates lost their seats: to La France Insoumise in the 1st and 9th constituencies, and to RN-coalition parties in the 8th and 10th. The other representatives were all reelected.[12]
The department is served byAlpes–Isère Airport which provides flights to some European destinations. However, other airports such asLyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport andGeneva Airport are also used by air travellers from the department as both airports provide more domestic and international destinations.
TheGrande Chartreuse is the mother abbey of theCarthusian order. It is located 22 km (14 mi) north of Grenoble.
As early as the 13th century, residents of the north and central parts of Isère spoke a dialect of theFranco-Provençal language calledDauphinois, while those in the Southern parts spoke theVivaro-Alpine dialect ofOccitan. Both continued to be spoken in rural areas of Isère into the 20th century.
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