La Plagne is one of several “mega-resorts” in the northern Tarentaise area of France and is made up of 10 different villages with each offering a completely different ambiance. This means La Plagne generally has something for everyone. The unmatched ski access and amenities of Plagne Centre, to the quiet and secluded traditional Alpine village environment of Les Coches. Having spent 2 seasons in La Plagne and 5 years defending its honour here at the Interactive Resorts sales office, I thought it the right time to open your eyes to the interesting history behind its development.

La Plagne was opened in 1961 as an attempt to invigorate the area’s stagnating economy. The area was very much reliant on its farming and mining industries but this was not enough to keep the younger generations happy and they began a mass exodus to the nearby cities such as Chambery in search of bright lights and excitement. It wasn’t until 1961 that the various local dignitaries formed an association charged with reversing this worrying trend. The main driving force behind this association was a Dr. Borrione, who was not only the then mayor of Aime (the largest town in the local area) but also a member of the “Maquis” (French resistance) during the second world war, he was even arrested twice and managed to escape on both occasions! During the war, the mountains above Aime were resistance strongholds, with the mines providing invaluable protection from both the vicious winters and the Nazi occupiers. He was also a medical visionary years ahead of his time, being the first doctor in France to have experimented with Polio vaccinations and succeeded in vaccinating the whole of the local population by 1954. Dr. Borrione’s role in the genesis of La Plagne cannot be overstated, because of his various achievements, he was one of the few members of the local society that was trusted by each of the four different areas. These areas (Macot, Aime, de Longefoy and Bellentre) were always separated by a deep sense of local rivalry and therefore finding a figurehead that all areas could trust was a huge turning point in the early years. Dr. Borrione had his heart set on building the first lifts and accommodation on the “Plateau de la Plagne”, but encountered major resistance from the then owners of the land. It was privately owned and the main protagonist (who was actually a close personal friend of Dr. Borrione!) refused to sell his land. Subsequently Dr. Borrione decided the only course of action was to take the nay-sayers over to Courchevel to show them what a winter resort can do to help the local community. After having met several local dignitaries, business owners and workers, several were persuaded that a ski resort represented the best chance of saving their community but not everyone was onside. In 1960 Dr Borrione met with the Director of the mines who explained that they would be closed within 10 years. This effectively ended any resistance to the idea of developing a ski resort in the area.

Emile Allais in action!

Dr Borrione then enlisted the legendary skier Emile Allais to give technical advice in laying out the ski area. They took a helicopter trip together in April 1960 and identified two potential pistes, now named Biolley and Grande Rochette. Allais was so impressed by what he saw, he wrote:

“La Plagne has some extraordinary possibilities; it will be the most original resort with guaranteed snow and guaranteed sun”.

The project was now inevitable and the first 2 drag lifts and 4 pistes were opened in April 1961.

The original resort was opened on the La Plagne Plateau and is now called Plagne Centre. The ski village itself was designed by Michel Besancon. His revolutionary idea was to build a ski village with an emphasis on convenience. All original hotels and apartments were ski to the door and the main shopping area was all indoors in an effort to make the whole experience accessible to all ages and ski abilities. This was a dream that has certainly been achieved, with La Plagne offering arguably the most convenient overall ski access of any resort in the area (including its more fashionable competitors!) This design proved to be very popular and was the catalyst that caused the massive expansion throughout the 70s and 80s. The ski area grew to encompass the nearby villages of Champagny, Les Coches and Montalbert. Over the next few years, more purpose built resorts were added to the traditional alpine villages; Aime 2000 was constructed in 1971, Plagne Villages (originally called Super-Plagne) was opened in 1972, Plagne Bellecote in 1974, Plagne 1800 in 1981, Belle Plagne in 1982 and Plagne Soleil in 1990.

The most recent and perhaps most important development was the construction of the Vanoise Express, an cavernous double decker cable car built to link La Plagne with its neighbouring resort of Les Arcs. The new mega resort was named Paradiski and now boasts over 425km of skiing and 141 ski lifts. When you compare this with La Plagne’s humble beginnings (2 drag lifts!), these are remarkable statistics, achieved over a relatively short period of time.

La Plagne is very much a purpose built ski resort by nature. Purpose built can sometimes be a dirty word in this industry, and whilst it is never going to be as aesthetically pleasing as Val d’Isere or Meribel, it does offer such convenience in terms of ski access, that La Plagne will continue to be a very popular resort with British skiers.

Plagne Centre and Belle Plagne offer the widest choice of ski in ski out chalets, from the excellent value Chalet Graciosa to the luxurious Como Suite, there is something to suit all budgets.

Recommended chalets for your Courchevel ski in ski out skiing holiday

Family ski in, ski out chalets…

Chalet Hotel des Deux Domaines, Belle Plagne, Sleeps 216

When looking for a family skiing destination, you look for convenience and enough extra activities to keep the most energetic of kids (young and old alike) occupied. The Deux Domaines passes both tests with flying colours. The chalet is practically ski to the door, the chalet also boasts a swimming pool, hot-tub and an in house creche. Skiing with the kids in tow does not have to be a chore!

Ski in, ski out in luxury:

Chalet Summit View Annecy Suite, Plagne Centre, sleeps 6-10.

This beautful chalet apartment is ideally situated on the slopes and a quick 50m walk from the town centre. The spacious living room with flat screen TVand full en suite facilities for every bedroom gives the chalet the feel of an exclusive boutique hotel.

Good value ski in, ski out:

Chalet Graciosa, Plagne Centre, Sleeps 44

This chalet is literally on the slopes. Ski access doesn’t come any more convenient as this. The chalet itself is comfortable, has it’s own bar and is a few minutes walk to the nightlife and shops of Plagne Centre.

The skiing offers something for all abilities, with beginners and intermediates well looked after by the cruisy motorway greens and blues in and around Plagne Centre and Belle Plagne. These pistes are directly accessible from the ski school meeting points, making getting the kids on the mountain as painless as possible!

Off the piste, La Plagne also offers plenty to keep the young, and young at heart amused. La Plagne offers public ice skating rinks, swimming pools and plenty of shops.

There are plenty of chalets in La Plagne that are ideal for your family ski holdidays. As the resort is “purpose-built”, most accommodation offers access to the skiing that puts the more popular french mega resorst such as Val d’Isere and Meribel to shame. The Balcons complex in Belle Plagne that includes stand-out chalets such as the Chanterelle and Morille offer excellent ski access, central location and a dazzling array of amenties that keep the kids and big kids occupied. Perhaps the top pick for families would be the stunning Hotel des Deux Domaines. Not only is there a plethora of in-house childcare options (these should be pre-booked) but there is also a swimming pool, hot-tub and free baby listening but the property is practically ski in/out and the rooms and suites offer excellent flexibility with something that suits every party.

Recommended Chalets for your La Plagne family ski holidays:

For Ski in ski out…

Chalet Chanterelle, Belle Plagne – Sleeps 12

Chalet Chanterelle is one of the apartments in the Balcons complex. Not only is the chalet a stones throw away from the attractive village centre but a piste passes just behind the complex. If thats not enough, the complex also boasts it’s own ski hire shop and swimming pool!

Family ski chalet including child care

Hotel Des Deux Domaines – Belle Plagne, sleeps 216

The only property in resort to offer its own in house creche. The chalet is practically ski in-out and has rooms and suites that suit most parties. This chalet is arguably the most popular in resort and sells out incredibly early. Book early to avoid disappointment!

 For a charming Alpine Ski village…

Chalet Roussette, Plagne 1800, sleeps 24-33

Plagne 1800 is a charming alpine hamlet nestled between the trees below Plagne Centre. The resort has it’s own amenities, lifts and ski school meeting points and the nightlife of Plagne Centre (should you need it!) is a quick 5 minute bus ride away. The Chalet Roussette offers spacious rooms with en suite facilities with easy access to the skiing. There are several rooms that have two extra beds, if both of these are occupied by children, they go for half price!!

Luxury Family Ski Holidays…

Summit View Como Suite, Plagne Centre, Sleeps 6-9

This chalet ticks all the boxes. You can fall off the balcony and hit the piste, ski school meeting points are practically opposite the chalet. The apartment is a nice size to give a family their own private chalet and it can be booked with oe without private nannies. The chalet itself is stunning and would not be out of place amongst the glitz and glamour of Courchevel 1850 and Val d’Isere.

Great value family ski chalet…

Chalet Graciosa, Plagne Centre, Sleeps 44

This chalet is literally on the slopes. For ski access like this, you would expect a price to match. The chalet Graciosa bucks this trend, offering fantastic ski access at very reasonable prices.

Skiing Christmas 2010

From the beautiful mountain villages around the base of La Plagne at around 1,300 metres, to the top level at the 2,000 metre mark, the resort has it all. There are wonderful, boulevard blues and reds, steep black pistes as well as superb powder fields and, down lower towards the villages of Montchavin and Les Coches, some of the nicest tree runs in the Alps. If you want high altitude for your next Christmas group ski holiday, the top of La Plagne, Plagne Soleil or Plagne 1800 will fit the bill nicely. If you’re keen for something a little more charming we can offer chalets around the base of the resort where your Christmas ski holiday to La Plagne will be a holiday you’ll not soon forget. The many different satellite resorts that make up La Plagne as a whole all have decent access to the ski area via their own chair and bubble lifts, and as a purpose-built resort much of it is also ski-in ski-out. So for high altitude and a great chalet location, look no further than La Plagne for your Christmas ski holiday this year.