Les Arcs Announces Developments For Winter 2023/24

Winter 2023 is a landmark year for French ski resort Les Arcs Bourg Saint Maurice as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of both the Vanoise Express cable car linking Les Arcs and La Plagne to create Paradiski and the creation of Arc 1950 – Le Village.

The dynamic, forward-thinking resort continues to innovate, but with the main goal of preserving the natural wealth of the region to be able to offer a unique environment to those who live in Les Arcs and those that come to visit.

Les Arcs is moving towards energy autonomy and 2023 sees the resort make the commitment to stop artificialising land and therefore stop building in Les Arcs. It is also focusing on becoming a vibrant destination year-round with something on offer in all seasons, including a rich and varied cultural programme.

Below are some of the focuses and highlights in Les Arcs Bourg Saint Maurice for the upcoming year. More news and more details can be found in the Les Arcs Press Kit which can be downloaded here.

Les Arcs - A Responsible Destination

• Since the resort’s creation and even more since 2018, respect for the environment has been at the core of Les Arcs’ approach. The resort has a long-term view, and know it is their duty to offer a mountain territory people can enjoy whilst preserving it at the same time.
• 2023 sees Les Arcs commit to stopping any land artificialisation and therefore stop building in Les Arcs.
• Les Arcs is committed to encouraging its visitors to use ‘soft mobility’. Travelling by train and funicular means less CO2. The funicular from Bourg Saint Maurice to Arc 1600 is free for those arriving by train and takes just 7 minutes. This meets the new Eurostar Snow service which connects London with Bourg Saint Maurice via Lille.
• Les Arcs have a zero plastic approach and encourage use of local tap water through its ‘Eau des Arcs’ campaign.
• Les Arcs organises the Stop Waste Tour and is part of the Adopt’1 Spot initiative set up by Mountain Riders that consists of defining a specific area to be cleaned up twice a year for 3 years. The aim is to be able to compare the data and study the progression of litter pollution scientifically. Les Arcs have added two new areas of the resort to be studied (La Folie Douce and the Transarc worksite), in addition to an existing area near tourist residences.

20 Years of History Celebrated

• 20th Anniversary of Paradiski and the Vanoise Express. This winter celebrates 20 years since the inauguration of the Vanoise Express, the exceptional cable-car that linked the unexpected by connecting the two sides of the mountain, the resorts of La Plagne, Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry. Creating Paradiski, the area has never looked back, and continues to offer 425km of varied ski runs across the whole ski area.
• Arc 1950 - Le Village 20th Anniversary. In 2003, a mountain village built from scratch came into existence. It was car-free, with cobbled streets not cleared of snow, both for the atmosphere and to ensure that the village was “ski-in, ski-out”. In Arc 1950 everything is geared towards the customer; the easy access with almost no stairs, the pleasant streets, the decoration and lighting that give the village a magical feel and a village square that is the centre for events. All features that have contributed to Arc 1950’s success. After 20 years, the village is doing very well, with record numbers of visitors in winter and summer alike, quite remarkable for a site that was predicted to “never work in the summer”. 

Innovative Ideas

• To accommodate beginner skiers and snowboarders who visit Les Arcs for a long weekend or just don’t want a full week of ski lessons, Arc Aventure by Evolution 2 are now offering 3 days of group lessons for adult beginner skiers and snowboarders (age 10 and up).
• The ‘Giants of Malgovert’ is a new feature in the forest near Arc 1600. Three wooden giants standing over 7 metres tall have been constructed for children to play in and on during both summer and winter. The Malgovert forest giants have climbing walls, doors, platforms, giant Mikado boards, footbridges and rope nests so children can test their first sensations of height and balance in a fun, natural environment.
• Using the garage of the Varet gondola (a night-time shelter where the cabins are protected from the high-altitude weather) to offer visitors a unique experience has become a reality in Les Arcs with the Aiguille Rouge Illuminated Murals. This winter visiting this impressive light show is now included in all ski passes as part of the ski lift company’s multi activity offer.

Alpine living – in a different way

• There is a new secret five-star spot in Arc 1600m with Chalet Bella Vya 2 & 3. 400 m² in total (which can be divided into two chalets of 200 m²) designed and decorated in keeping with the history of Les Arcs, with Charlotte Perriand style furniture to relax in while you enjoy the view of Mont Blanc. More information on chaletbelavya.com
• Combining shared living space, a passion for outdoor sports and a love of the mountains is the concept of the Wanderful Life Chalet in Arc 1600. An original concept where you enjoy a room of your own in a magical, high-end location, but with the capability to co-work with others – and also enjoy the mountains together. Living and working in the mountains is also the focus of Sowo in Bourg Saint Maurice, which offers open plan work areas, private offices, meeting rooms, studios and a café-restaurant in a revitalising environment. More information on wanderfullife.fr and wearesowo.com

A Rich Cultural Programme

Les Arcs has a varied and rich year-round cultural programme including the Les Arcs Film Festival and Les Arcs Archi Design. Les Arcs Film Festival is a major cultural event which promotes the diversity of European cinema and reveals new talents. Taking place from 16-23 December 2023, the festival sees a busy programme of screenings and performances across the resort (lesarcs-filmfest.com). Les Arcs Archi Design runs from 3-5 April 2024, celebrating and exploring architecture with conferences, exhibitions, guided tours and student competitions.

For all information about Les Arcs Bourg Saint Maurice visit www.lesarcs.com