Voiron, France

Capital City

With a population of just 21,847, Voiron is a modest manufacturing hub in southeastern France, far from the glitz of the Riviera. The city has a storied history, from its 17th-century canvas trade to the rise of its modern industries like Rossignol skis and Chartreuse liquor. However, the transition has been rocky - Voiron lost major employers like Johnson & Johnson, and bureaucracy remains a persistent headache for residents. On the plus side, the city's scenic setting in the Chartreuse Mountains provides outdoor recreation, and the Chartreuse Cellars draw tourists year-round. Overall, Voiron caters to a pragmatic, working-class crowd more interested in local industry than Parisian chic.