Les Arcs

Alps

France

Les Arcs is a ski resort located in the Savoie region of the French Alps, in the Tarentaise Valley. It was founded in 1968 by Robert Blanc, Roger Godino, and designer Charlotte Perriand, whose modernist vision shaped the resort’s distinctive architecture. The area includes five main sites: Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950, and Arc 2000, ranging in elevation from 1,200 to 3,226 meters. Les Arcs is part of the Paradiski ski area, linked to La Plagne via the Vanoise Express cable car. The entire network offers around 425 km of slopes, with over 200 km within Les Arcs alone. The Aiguille Rouge summit rises to 3,250 meters and features a 7 km descent with more than 2,000 meters of vertical drop. The resort includes slopes for all levels, freeride zones, a snowpark, beginner areas, and a legendary speed skiing track in Arc 2000. Each village has its own personality: Arc 1600 is family-friendly and practical, Arc 1800 is lively and social, Arc 1950 is elegant and pedestrian-only, and Arc 2000 provides direct access to the highest terrain. The 1960s–70s architecture was designed to blend into the landscape and is now recognized as a significant example of modern alpine design.