Discover La Plagne

La Plagne: The History of this Unique Destination

Hit the Slopes in La Plagne - Piste Map and Webcams

Stay in La Plagne: Our Selection of Chalets and Apartments

Situated in the heart of the Tarentaise valley in the Savoie region, and with views of Mont Blanc, the resort of La Plagne is made up of eleven individual villages, each with its own distinct atmosphere and dynamic. Whether you choose to stay in winter or summer, you are sure to find one that suits you. The resort is surrounded by a vast mountain playground extending from 700 up to 3,250 metres in altitude.

The resort
History
The ski
Accommodation

From the Valley .

Aime la Plagne

In the valley below, about 20 kilometres from the high altitude settlements, the village of Aime la Plagne has excellent transport links thanks to its TGV station, and has a good network of inter-resort shuttles.

Montchavin les Coches

This village, spread over two levels and retaining its Savoyard authenticity, is a great option for a holiday with children. Montchavin les Coches holds the "Famille Plus" label, and has plenty to offer young and old alike.

Champagny en Vanoise

This exceptionally sunny village, located on a south-facing slope at an altitude of 1,200 metres, has retained all its traditional charm. It offers easy access to the pistes, and also has a Nordic domain offering a range of activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding.

Plagne Montalbert

A warm welcome at 1,350 metres awaits you. La Plagne Montalbert is renowned for its friendly atmosphere and the wide range of events taking place throughout the year. With its pedestrianised centre and snow front, it attracts many visitors year round.

. to the Summit

Plagne 1800

Looking for a relaxing mountain holiday? You're in the right place. With its mountain chalets and wellness areas, La Plagne 1800 is synonymous with peace and quiet, and attracts an international clientele.

Did you know ? The entire ski area is easily accessible from this resort.

Plagne Bellecôte

Snowsports enthusiasts will love Plagne Bellecôte, purpose-built to integrate with the pistes, and offering ski-in/ski-out access.

Did you know ? This village's modernist buildings are a complete contrast to traditional Savoyard architecture.

Plagne centre

Want to stay higher up the mountain? Plagne Centre lies at 1,970 metres in altitude, with a great location at the crossroads of all the villages, with the convenience of ski-in/ski-out access. This purpose-built resort has excellent shopping facilities in a number of large arcades.

Belle Plagne

Belle Plagne sits on the mountainside at an altitude of 2,050 metres. Here, you will appreciate staying close to nature in one of the resort's many chalets. This car-free resort is a great place to enjoy the clear mountain air.

Plagne soleil

With its central location, Plagne Soleil offers an exceptional starting point for skiing, and is situated at the same altitude as Belle Plagne.

Plagne Aime 2000

With an altitude of 2,100 metres, this resort is the highest part of La Plagne, and is notable for its striking avant-garde architecture.

In our opinion, you are sure to be fascinated by the apartment complex Le Paquebot des Neiges. This village is also a paradise for snowsports lovers.

Plagne villages

Finally, the relaxed atmosphere of Plagne Villages makes it an ideal location for a family holiday in an idyllic mountain setting.

Ready to spend a holiday in the mountains in a place full of contrasts and different atmospheres?

The Birth of a World Famous Ski Resort

As with many mountain villages, La Plagne has had to deal with many of its young generation leaving the valley in search of work when the traditional livelihoods of agriculture and mining were no longer able to support the local population. Today, La Plagne is a large multi-centre destination made up of traditional villages and modern resorts purpose-built for winter sports.

Built in the heart of a natural mountain landscape, and with a diverse range of atmospheres, La Plagne has a wide appeal, and attracts visitors from around the world who come to enjoy this dynamic and lively resort.

1961 - A Symbolic Year

La Plagne's history as a ski destination began in 1961 with the building of a new access road to what had until then been a tiny, inaccessible resort. On 24 December of the same year, La Plagne opened for the winter with a modest ski area with two drag lifts and four pistes. Skiers came to the resort after hearing about it through word of mouth and the media.

From 1963 Onwards - A Phenomenal Growth in Tourism

1963 saw the opening of the first shopping arcade in la Plagne, followed by rapid development of accommodation. Over the years, the ski area and the resort itself grew in size to accommodate the ever-growing number of visitors. France's national "Plan Neige" (Snow Plan) for the development of winter sports tourism shaped the evolution of La Plagne and contributed to its emergence as a major international ski destination.

Did you know ? La Plagne is one of the Alps' largest resorts with 55,000 tourist beds, and is now one of the most popular ski resorts in the world.

La Plagne was the venue for the bobsleigh and luge events during the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics and has France's only bobsleigh run. Since the 1950s, bobsledding has been a big part of the local tradition and is one of La Plagne's most popular attractions.

In 2018, La Plagne was the winner of the Travel d'Or "French Tourist Destination" award.

Determined Pioneers

La Plagne's pioneering founders shared a vision of a purpose-built resort. And over the years, this vision has become a reality.

It was Pierre Borrione, the highly-respected local doctor and mayor of Aime, who, in response to the closure of the local mines, founded the ski resort as a way of creating between 500 and 600 jobs and breathe new life into La Plagne. Without him, and his fellow pioneers, La Plagne would not exist as we know it today.
No history of La Plagne would be complete without mention of architect Michael Bezançon and his vision of a purpose-built resort.
Maurice Michaud, an engineer responsible for the development of winter sports tourism through "Plan Neige", shaped the identity and development of La Plagne.
Émile Allais, a renowned ski champion and founder of Ecole de Ski Français, became technical director for the La Plagne ski area.

Satellite Villages that Shape the Resort's Character

La Plagne has certainly kept an eye on the bigger picture throughout its development. The 'original' resort of Plagne Centre has continued to grow, and now has eleven satellite villages, each with its own distinct atmosphere.

Champagny-en-Vanoise is a charming Savoyard village made up of hamlets with traditional buildings in wood and stone. This south-facing, sunny resort is popular with families.
La Plagne 1800 is an old mining village characterised by its traditional wooden chalets and locally mined 'blue lauze' slate roofs. It is perfect for those looking for peace and tranquility.
Plagne Villages opened in 1972 and saw a new type of urban planning - a modern, purpose-built resort built on a greenfield site. It is ideal for families.
Plagne Bellecôte was created in 1974 under the guidance of La Plagne's architect, Michel Bezançon. Designed to be the hub of the resort's lift system, its modern construction is typical of a purpose-built ski resort.
La Plagne Montalbert was opened in 1980.
The architecture of the various villages ranges from modern to traditional. For example, Belle Plagne, which opened in 1981, saw a return to traditional construction methods for its accommodation.
Finally, Plagne Aime 2000 is a perfect example of a purpose-built resort.

A Breathtaking Ski Area

Since 2003, La Plagne has been linked to the neighbouring resort of Les Arcs to create the famous Paradiski area. The infrastructure has been continuously developed over the years to create a modern lift system using the latest technology.

The first two drag lifts at Les Borseliers were built in 1970 and 1977 respectively. The Les Alloets drag lift came into service in 1972.

Did you know ? Two years after the start of construction, the Bellecôte gondola lift was opened by the minister of Tourism in 1978.

The bobsleigh run was completed in 1991. Since then, it has been used for numerous competitions, including the World Cup and Olympic Games.

A Rich Heritage

Aime La Plagne is one of the oldest villages in the French Alps, and was inhabited as far back as 1000 BC, and its architectural heritage includes buildings and artifacts dating as far back as the Roman and Baroque eras.

So, are you ready for a stay in the mountains? Cimalpes will make your dreams of a stay in La Plagne a reality thanks to our extensive rental portfolio.

Skiing in La Plagne

The Ski Area

The vast ski area of La Plagne is notable for its remarkably diverse terrain. Enjoy the freedom of the vast piste network, with no less than 225 kilometres of runs, and experience a true sense of freedom as you ski over glaciers and through forested valleys.

Beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers are well-catered for with a total of 135 marked runs to choose from. There is something for everyone.

Breakdown of marked runs:

18 black
35 red
74 blue
8 green

New Ways for Skiers to Have Fun on the Snow

La Plagne is keen to offer skiers the chance to discover alternative forms of skiing and different ways in which to have fun in the snow.

La Plagne's Fun Slope is the longest in Europe. Great for kids and adults alike, you can gain confidence on your skis as you encounter interactive sounds, raised turns and other surprises such as a bridge and a tunnel.
Head for the "Wild West" in the Buffalo Park, a themed fun slope suitable for the young and young-at-heart alike.
Come and assess your ski level and see if you can beat your own record on La Plagne's timed slalom course, within easy reach of the centre.
Three boarder cross courses and a half-pipe will delight the more adventurous.
Intermediate and advanced skiers can discover the Big Air Bag where they can try out new tricks and jumps safely, before landing on a giant inflated cushion.

ski area map

Paradiski Ski Area

As its name suggests, Paradiski is a vast snowsports playground. With no less than 425 kilometres of marked runs, it is the second largest ski area in the world. Discover something new every day on your skis.

The Paradiski ski area starts at an altitude of 1,200 metres and rises to 3,250 metres. It is linked to the neighbouring resorts of Les Arcs and Peisey-Valandry.

Did you know ? It is possible to traverse Paradiski entirely on blue runs - a delight for less experienced skiers.

Snow Conditions

70% of the La Plagne ski area is situated above 2,000 metres, thus ensuring exceptional snow cover throughout the winter season in this purpose-built resort.

The Lift System

A state-of-the-art lift system with 76 ski lifts offers quick and convenient access to the skiing.

La Plagne Lift System Includes:

2 cable cars
10 gondola lifts
31 chairlifts
30 drag lifts
5 magic carpets

And let's not forget the Vanoise Express, the longest cable car in the world, which links La Plagne to the neighbouring resort of Les Arcs.

So, are you ready to enjoy your next ski holiday?

La Plagne's Architecture

From secluded traditional hamlets to large modern structures, the architecture of La Plagne is unique. Made up of eleven individual resorts, each with its own distinct identity, present day La Plagne reflects the resort's strategy to create a truly multi-faceted destination.

Holiday Accommodation in the Heart Of the Resort

It's fair to say that La Plagne has a huge selection of holiday accommodation available. A significant proportion of the resort's 56,000 visitor beds are in apartment residences, many of which offer spectacular views of the surrounding peaks.

Our apartments on offer in La Plagne are warm and spacious, and decorated to a high standard. With shopping arcades nearby, or within the building itself, these residences are designed with maximum convenience in mind.

Inventiveness is the Watch Word

If you head a bit further up the mountain, you will find satellite villages with their own unique character. Take for example Plagnes Villages, created in 1972 on a greenfield site. Built according to traditional Savoyard architecture and construction methods, the mainly four-story buildings are laid out in a serpentine pattern that follows the contours of the landscape.
In contrast, all the accommodation in Plagne Bellecôte is an a single imposing ten-storey building. The urban planning and architecture of Plagne Bellecôte reflects architect Michel Bezançon's desire to echo the form of the hydroelectric mountain dams in his designs.

The Daring Architecture of Le Paquebot de Neiges

No account of La Plagne's architecture would be complete without a mention of the famous Le Pacquebot de Neiges. Situated at an altitude of 2,000 metres, this 21-storey residence of 850 apartments typifies the audacious architecture that makes La Plagne stand out amongst purpose-built ski resorts.

Its monumental form with its three "peaks" certainly does not go unnoticed. Visitors who stay here can enjoy a holiday with maximum convenience thanks to ski-in/ski-out access and the shopping facilities within the building.

Opened in 1969, architect Michel Bezançon's aim was to revolutionise the mountain holiday experience, with a design that questioned what is truly necessary to live at altitude. Today, Le Paquebot de Neiges' vintage late '60s architecture retains its unique appeal for visitors to Aime 2000.

Did you know ? Le Paquebot de Neiges in Aime 2000 is one of the largest holiday residences in France, and is recognised as part of the architectural heritage of the 20th Century.

Four Key Attributes of Cimalpes Accommodation

La Plagne is all about ski-in/ski-out access

All of our rental apartments in La Plagne are in prime locations. One of La Plagne's main attractions has always been the ability to ski to and from your accommodation. We believe that this is a key factor for a successful mountain holiday.

We want your holiday to be a memorable one. Many of our properties have large picture windows framing the breathtaking views of the village, ski slopes and surrounding peaks.

Accommodation of all sizes

A holiday in the mountains is a perfect opportunity to get together with family or friends. Our large-capacity properties have plenty of bedrooms to accommodate adults and children, and some have private bathrooms.

The main living area provides a perfect setting in which to spend quality time with your nearest and dearest, whether that be relaxing by the fire, or enjoying a convivial meal around the table.

High quality equipment and facilites

At Cimalpes, we don't cut corners when it comes to equipment. All our apartments have everything you need for a great holiday and you don't have to worry about a thing. Our high quality facilities, including ski rooms, boot warmers and ski lockers, make skiing as convenient as possible. Cimalpes can also organise all your ski equipment at your request. Are you ready to hit the slopes?

Did you know ? Our properties are so much more than just a place to sleep. We promise you a truly memorable experience cocooned in one of our cosy holiday rentals.

Luxury Services

Cimalpes offers a comprehensive concierge service to accommodate all your requirements. For catered bookings, our experienced in-chalet chefs will deliver gastronomic delights in the comfort of your own property, by the roaring fire or on the terrace during the warmer months.

As experts in luxury chalet and apartment rentals, we do everything possible to ensure your comfort. Our extensive partner network means that we can organise ground transfers, drivers, or professional cleaning upon request.

We love to take care of our guests by paying special attention to all the little details that make a difference and put a smile on your face when you arrive at your accommodation.

Our holiday chalets and apartments with a welcoming atmosphere are waiting for you. Are you ready for an unforgettable stay in one of our properties?