| What is now reffered to as La Plagne covers the | | | | were stored in old mines and used against the |
| four said communities and incorporates over 200 | | | | Germans. Today, the Mont de la Guerre is a piste |
| km of slopes and 100 square kilometers of ski | | | | attributed to these battles. The town center even |
| area: cross-country, downhill, and trails for all | | | | houses a war cenotaph to the British aircrew who |
| levels. Foreigners were scarce on the La Plagne | | | | helped drop-deliver the ammo from their planes. |
| ski the slopes in the '60s. There was no resort | | | | In the center of the six high altitude resorts, the |
| and accommodation would have been almost | | | | Plagne Centre is where you can get your bearings |
| impossible to find. At the end of 1961, La Plagne | | | | and find any necessity in groceries, boutiques and |
| opened some lifts and basic accommodations for | | | | other stores, and even get medical attention if |
| tired out skiers – not even close to the | | | | required, in the medical center. Several nearby |
| resorts seen today. With ski competitions shown | | | | villages, such as the Champagny en Vanoise and |
| live on TV, La Plagne doubled with each passing | | | | the Montchavin, can be accessed using the free |
| year and in 1962-3, the access road had to be | | | | public transport and you can even ski to your |
| asphalted so that people wouldn't get stuck | | | | friends resort! For example, you can meet for ski |
| getting there, as they had in previous years. | | | | in the morning and take the lift back to your |
| Skiers often help the bashers make the trails | | | | respective resorts even if you're in different |
| when they were not skiing, for all the volunteer | | | | towns. Definitely, this is the place to be if you |
| work that could be rounded up had to be. Within a | | | | intend to spend lively ski vacations in France. If ski |
| few years, the number of pistes, and accordingly | | | | is not your cup of tea, you can try different |
| of skiers, grew greatly. Nowadays, there is no | | | | winter sports in La Plagne. First, it is the only |
| need for a car when going to the La Plagne | | | | French holiday destination that has an Olympic |
| resort. It can be reached by train, of which you | | | | bobsleigh track, and you get to try it. On a |
| get off the Aime station and take a 30-minute | | | | Bobraft, a Mono-Bob or a Taxi Bob, hold on tight |
| bus ride to get to the resort. It can also be | | | | as you fly at nearly 40km/h. Slower but as |
| reached by Snow Train, which allows the | | | | exciting, traineaux a chiens, or husky sledding, can |
| passengers to admire the breathtaking splendour | | | | be tried in the Plagne Montalbert. The team of |
| of the French Alps. The closest airports are in | | | | energetic huskies will bring its passengers through |
| Chambery, Geneva, Lyon, and Grenoble. Ski-wise, | | | | winding forest paths, sharp corners, and downhill |
| the La Plagne ski area is huge. It represents 10 | | | | slopes, all surrounded by beautiful sceneries. For a |
| smaller resorts (6 of high altitude and 4 lower | | | | traditional sightseeing day, La Plagne has numerous |
| ones) and totals 135 pistes at an altitude ranging | | | | winter walking trails to offer: you can be glacier |
| between 1,250m and 3,250m above see level. So, | | | | walking at the Glacier de la Chiaupe, you can visit |
| with 20 expert black runs, over 70 intermediate | | | | the "Grotte de Glace" or ice caves, or you can |
| blue runs, around 30 advanced red runs and about | | | | give in to your daring personality and climb a |
| a dozen beginner green runs, no one will be bored. | | | | frozen waterfall. And don't leave before you tried |
| And snowboarders are not forgotten with their | | | | legendary French apres-ski in La Plagne. With |
| half pipes and fun parks. At a more contemplative | | | | more than 80 restaurants, almost 20 different |
| pace, the La Plagne ski resorts have numerous | | | | bars and 4 discotheques, there is no point in |
| cross-country trails that will suit any level of skiing | | | | staying in at night, no matter how exhausting |
| skill. If you are interested in history, the Mont de | | | | your day was. It is after an exciting day on the |
| la Guerre piste is just for you. Historically, La | | | | slopes and an eventful night out partying that a |
| Plagne was used as an area to store military | | | | cosy hotel room or apartment by the slopes is |
| munitions during the Great Wars. The weapons | | | | well deserved. |