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Thursday 07 November updated on 11-07-2024 at 8:06
Thursday 07 November updated on 11-07-2024 at 8:06
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It all began with the pivotal meeting between Robert Blanc, a local native, ski instructor, and mountain guide, and Roger Godino, developer and planner. The fusion of minds and expertise of these great professionals is at the origin of the creation of Les Arcs.
In 1961, the first chairlifts connected Bourg Saint Maurice to the plateau of Pierre Blanche, the future site of Arc 1600. The following year, several drag lifts (Biolley, Deux Têtes, and Signal) equipped the beginnings of the ski area.
In 1964, the municipalities of Bourg Saint Maurice and Hauteville-Gondon merged. A contract with Roger Godino, the future developer of Les Arcs, was signed. Bourg Saint Maurice provided financial backing, and Hauteville-Gondon contributed land for the project.
With the opening of the Les Trois Arcs hotel in 1968, Arc 1600 welcomed its first visitors. This true architecture laboratory, designed by Charlotte Perriand and a team of architects, became a model for future sites of the resort.
Following in the footsteps of Arc 1600, Arc 1800 was designed for both winter and summer seasons. The cable car connecting Bourg Saint Maurice to Arc 1600 was created, later replaced by a funicular in 1989. In 1975, the Golf Hotel, then the largest hotel in the Alps, was inaugurated.
Designed by Bernard Taillefer around the Varet hill, the resort was conceived as a "fort" that withstands storms while basking in the sun, with rooftops reminiscent of ski jumps, blending with the Mont Blanc panorama.
Developed by Robert Jérôme for Intrawest, this project combines traditional architecture modernized with stone, wood, and slate roofs, creating a rustic yet sophisticated atmosphere, seamlessly integrated into the ski area.
In 2006, Les Arcs was awarded the 20th Century Heritage Label, recognizing the urban planning and architecture of Arc 1600, Arc 1800, and the Aiguille Rouge cable car stations, exemplifying modernity and harmony with nature.
