Les Arcs: A trip to one of France's largest ski areas

Les Arcs is a very popular resort in Savoie thanks to its large ski area and modern infrastructure. It comprises 5 locations, each with its own special features.

Bourg Saint Maurice, the capital of the Haute-Tarentaise, attracts families and sports enthusiasts alike, thanks to its proximity to Les Arcs (accessible by funicular railway in just 7 minutes), its many white-water activities, its numerous hiking trails and its well-known events such as the Edelweiss Festival. Bourg Saint Maurice is also the arrival point for all holidaymakers travelling by train.

Arc 1600 was the first resort to be created in Les Arcs, and has been in existence since 1968, linking Bourg Saint Maurice with the other resorts. It was designed by the architect Charlotte Pierrand with avant-garde architecture conceived as a collective habitat that occupies the minimum amount of space in order to preserve the mountain.

Arc 1800 is a resort divided into 3 villages (Charvet, Villards and Charmetogé), with activities and shops concentrated in Charvet. It is popular with young people thanks to its festive atmosphere in the bars, clubs and bowling alley, which takes over when the lifts close. Its innovative conceptual architecture, open to the mountain, was conceived as a continuation of Arc 1600, in 1972.

Arc 1950 is the latest addition to Les Arcs. Created from scratch by a Canadian entrepreneur in 2003, it was recently bought by Pierre & Vacances Premium. Some call it "the Disneyland of the mountains", so much so that its architecture, shops and residences resemble a pasteboard set. And yet, the chalets on either side of the central alley are made of wood, and quality wood at that! These are brand new structures offering top-of-the-range services and a wellness centre, all in a village atmosphere that still has a certain charm.

Arc 2000, created in 1980, comprises two parts, Place du haut and Place du bas, linked by a lift or a conveyor belt if you're on skis. The resort has no real charm and is made up of tall buildings that try to blend in with the mountain landscape. It is home to 4 club hotels, the best known of which is Club Med. In 2010, new buildings were added to the resort, which is the highest in the area and only opens in winter, catering for winter sports enthusiasts of all kinds (there is an ice rink in the centre of the resort).

Paradiski, the ski area that includes Les Arcs, also includes Peisey-Vallandry, a small, authentic resort linked to the large, imposing resort of La Plagne, which is divided into six sites. This area offers more than 400 kilometres of slopes where, as well as the traditional snow sports, you can try out new disciplines such as ski joering (pulled by a horse), speed riding, dog sledding and, the latest addition, the Rodeo Park, a toboggan run that goes downhill for more than a kilometre. Thrills guaranteed!