Les Arcs, Ski area in Bourg Saint Maurice, France.
Les Arcs consists of four altitude stations between 1600 and 2000 meters above sea level, linked by a system of lifts and runs. Each station has its own accommodation and service facilities, while the entire complex spreads across several mountain faces.
The first settlement Arc 1600 was built in the late 1960s as a planned winter sports destination with direct slope access. Over the following decades, the area expanded through the addition of further altitude stations and connections to neighboring regions.
The name refers to the arc-shaped arrangement of villages along the mountainside, now developed into a continuous winter destination. Some of the older buildings show traditional Savoyard construction with wooden balconies and stone foundations.
A funicular railway links Bourg Saint Maurice to the upper stations, making arrival possible without a car. The area is divided into several sectors, so beginners and advanced skiers can each find suitable zones.
Part of the slopes runs through extensive Swiss stone pine forests, which are rare at this altitude and density in the French Alps. Some sections offer open views toward Mont Blanc when the weather is clear.
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