Mountain area

From Agropastoralism to Ski Resorts

A land of alpine pastures, the mountain has gradually transformed into a space for leisure and living throughout the 20th century. The new developments reflect a fresh perspective and highlight society's remarkable ability to adapt over the years.

Our History

1964

Municipal Merger

Merger of the municipalities of Hauteville-Gondon and Bourg Saint Maurice. Discover the book "A Century in Bourg Saint Maurice 1900-2000" published by EDELWEISS.

1968

Major Construction Works

In 1968, the major construction works began. Arc 1600 was the first resort to be built.
1974: Arc 1800
1979: Arc 2000
2003: Arc 1950

1974

The Cable Car

Created from the center of Bourg Saint Maurice, this cable car directly connected to Arc 1600. In 1989, it was replaced by the funicular.

1982

The Aiguille Rouge Cable Car

This cable car serves the Aiguille Rouge (3226m), the highest point of the Les Arcs ski area. Built without intermediate pylons, it was an impressive technical feat by the Swiss manufacturer Habegger.
- Length: 1068m
- Elevation gain: 533m
- Capacity: 1100 people/hour

1986

Start of Funicular Construction

1989

The Funicular

After three years of construction, the funicular was inaugurated in February 1989, carrying its first passengers. A French exclusive, this aerial funicular connects the Bourg Saint Maurice train station (terminus for TGV, Eurostar, and Thalys trains) to the Les Arcs ski area in just 7 minutes.

1991

Construction of the Speed Skiing Track

Built for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics.

2003

The Vanoise Express

This cable car connects the Les Arcs/Peisey Vallandry ski area to La Plagne in 4 minutes, at a speed of 12.5m/s, with power equivalent to that of a TGV train.

It opens as the cable car of superlatives:
- The fastest
- The largest
- The most powerful
- The longest span without pylons
- The most innovative...

2024

The Ski Area Includes:

425 km of slopes:
- 120 blue
- 66 red
- 36 black
- 10 green
At altitudes ranging from 1200 to 3250 meters.

2 glaciers, 2 snowparks, 6 boardercross tracks,
1 halfpipe, 1 waterslide, 3 toboggan runs, 11 competition slopes, 153 km of cross-country ski trails...

3 exceptional resorts in the second-largest interconnected ski area in the world: Paradiski.