estone mountains,
and not far from the source of the Guiers Mort. The original settlement
here was founded by St Bruno about 1084, and derived its name from the
small village to the S.E., formerly known as Cartusia, and now as St
Pierre de Chartreuse. The first convent on the present site was built
between 1132 and 1137, but the actual buildings date only from about
1676, the older ones having been often burnt. The convent stands in a
very picturesque position in a large meadow, sloping to the S.W., and
watered by a tiny tributary of the Guiers Mort. On the north, fine
forests extend to the Col de la Ruchere, and on the west rise
well-wooded heights, while on the east tower white limestone ridges,
culminating in the Grand Som (6670 ft.). One of the most famous of the
early Carthusian monks was St Hugh of Lincoln, who lived here from 1160
to 1181, when he went to England to found the first Carthusian house at
Witham in Somerset; in 1186 he became bishop of Lincoln, and before his
death in 1200 had built the angel choir and other portions of the
wonderful cathedral there.

The principal approach to the convent is from St Laurent du Pont, a
village situated on the Guiers Mort, and largely built by the monks--it
is connected by steam tramways with Voiron (for Grenoble) and St Beron
(for Chambery). Among the other routes may be mentioned those from
Grenoble by Le Sappey, or by the Col de la Charmette, or from Chambery
by the Col de Couz and the village of Les Echelles. St Laurent is about
5-1/2 m. from the convent. The road mounts along the Guiers Mort and
soon reaches the hamlet of Fourvoirie, so called from _forata via_, as
about 1510 the road was first pierced hence towards the convent. Here
are iron forges, and here was formerly the chief centre of the
manufacture of the famed Chartreuse liqueur. Beyond, the road enters the
"Desert" and passes through most delightful scenery. Some way farther
the Guiers Mort is crossed by the modern bridge of St Bruno, the older
bridge of Parant being still visible higher up the stream. Here begins
the splendid carriage road, constructed by M.E. Viaud between 1854 and
1856. It soon passes beneath the bold pinnacle of the Oeillette or
Aiguillette, beyond which formerly women were not allowed to penetrate.
After passing through four tunnels the road bends north (leaving the
Guiers Mort which flows past St Pierre de Chartreuse), and the valley
soon opens to form the upland hollow in which a