La Plagne & Paradiski

La Plagne is made up of 6 high altitude resorts located in the Tarentaise area of the Northern Alps: Aime la Plagne (2100m), Belle Plagne (2050m), Plagne Villages/Soleil (2050m), Plagne Bellecôte (1930m), Plagne Centre (1970m) and Plagne 1800 (1800m).

Plagne Centre is, quite obviously, the heart of the resort where you will find all that you need in terms of shops, bars and accommodation. It can never be accused of being the most attractive sector of La Plagne, but it is purpose built and therefore a practical location. Many of the apartments can be classed as ski in ski out and ski school meeting points are located nearby. This is where you will find necessities such as cash points, the Tourist Office, the main pharmacy and the medical centre. Accommodation is often slightly cheaper in Plagne Centre too, due to its utilitarian appearance and plethora of apartment blocks. ... see "La Plagne - The Local Area" for more

www.perso-laplagne-fr

La Plagne first developed in the early 19th century due to the silver that was to be found in the lead mines around the slopes. These mines became refuges for members of the French Resistance during the Second World War, a place where they could hide out and test their weapons without fear of discovery. The mines were also used to hide munitions that were dropped by British troops before being distributed further afield, there is a war memorial in Plagne Centre to the British air crews that were involved in such operations. ‘Mont de la Guerre’ above Champagny is named in memory of the conflicts that took place between locals and German soldiers.

La Plagne as a ski resort was created in 1961; the traditional livelihoods of agriculture and mining were no longer sufficient to support the local population and young people were moving away to nearby cities such as Lyon and Chambery to find work elsewhere. In 1960 the towns of Aime, Bellentre, Longefoy and Macot created an association to protect the interests of the local community. Under the guidance of Dr Borrione, the mayor of Aime, La Plagne opened its first ski lifts in December 1961. It was a modest start, just two drag lifts serving four slopes, but it was the beginning of the regeneration of a dwindling community. ... see "La Plagne: From Past to Present" for more

La Plagne's nightlife is almost as exhausting as its mountain pursuits! With a range of restaurants, bars and cafes to keep you well fed and watered there is also a plentiful array of opportunties for a bit of après or late-night venues for a spot of clubbing. The countless terraces ensure that you can always find a sunny spot to relax in... ... see "La Plagne Food & Drink" for more

The Vanoise National Park is one of the highlights of the Tarentaise region; a haven for all sorts of wildlife as well as a magnet for outdoor sports enthusiasts, it is well worth a visit at any time of year. Access is free and it is open year-round. ... see "Vanoise National Park" for more

For anyone that spends time in the mountains, be it summer or winter, the weather is a constant topic of conversation. And it is easy to understand why, as a change in the weather can impact so dramatically on your day. Should I take a coat? How many layers should I wear? Am I going to burn? Is it going to rain? These are questions we ask ourselves daily and normally the answer is based on a lucky guess, or perhaps on judgment gained from experience and/or the weather forecast. However, by acquiring some knowledge of local weather patterns and understanding how and why systems develop, along with a few bits of weather terminology, you can certainly reduce that element of luck, and learn to make a more educated decision on your days activity and clothing requirements with the information at your disposal. ... see "The Alpine Climate" for more

Here is collection of general resort knowledge compiled from years of responding to email enquiries, getting ourselves lost, finding ourselves, late-night bar conversations, your feedback, plus translations of French brochures. We have put this resource together to help you out when you are planning a trip to the resort. Updating this section is a never-ending task so if we have missed anything out, or you spot that we are out of date or just plain wrong, please do let us know!

The La Plagne ski App is now available on your iPhone! Everything you need to know and more about the La Plagne resort on the new iPhone application. Download it here or read on for more information >>> ... see "Laplagnet.com iPhone App" for more