SKI SEASON - BELLE PLAGE RESORT

Ski Season Belle Plagne Resort

T’is the season to don boots bigger and heavier than your greedy cat, and head to the best of the French ski resorts!

Where?

Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, Rhône-Alpes, France

Fact!

The La Plagne bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is located in La Plagne, France. The track was the venue for the bobsleigh and luge competitions for the 1992 Winter Olympics, whose host city was neighbouring Albertville .

Belle Plagne, at 2,050 metres, is one of the higher La Plagne resorts. It is situated just above Plagne Bellecote. The resort, as the name might suggest, is one of the prettier Plagne centres and consists of chalet style architecture.

Belle Plagne has chalets, hotels and residences in a small village. The upper and lower areas are linked by the commercial zones. There is a network of lifts and covered stairways for easy access on foot so there is no need to take your car to go shopping. The many shops, restaurants and bars give the centre of Belle Plagne an authentic village feel. In just a few minutes, the gondola takes you to Plagne Bellecôte, free of charge for pedestrians.

Belle Plagne was created in 1981 and is marked by a return to a traditional Savoyard architecture. Designed by architect Michel Bezançon, it is what we call a 4th generation resort, giving pride of place to traditional materials: stone, wood and lauze tiles on the typical chalet-style gable roofs. Built like a Savoyard village, it is spread over more than 50 floors, facing south. Thanks to the underground car parks, the village centre is entirely devoted to pedestrians and skiers.

Belle Plagne gets lots of sunshine and unobstructed views of the mountain peaks. It is a setting that is conducive to going walking and the village offers access to over 27 km of

walking trails so you can really make the most of the natural surroundings. You only have to decide whether you go on foot or on snowshoes! If you want to climb higher, get on the Roche de Mio gondola for a glacial adventure. The view from La Chiaupe glacier, some 3,200 m above sea level, is spectacular. In Belle Plagne, you have to look hard to find accommodation that is not ski-in/ski-out. Families will love how easy it is to get to the kids’ ski garden and the ski lesson meeting points. For skiers, this resort is THE Spot for heading off to the rest of the ski area. Belle Plagne has direct access to the Roche de Mio gondola which takes you up to Bellecote glacier. You can ski straight down to Plagne Bellecôte, where there are lifts to Plagne

Centre, Champagny-en-Vanoise and Montchavin-les-Coches, the departure point of the Vanoise Express, the flagship lift of the Paradiski area and its 425 km of runs. As regards fun zones, the snow park is in the perfect place in Belle Plagne with two freestyle zones.

Belle Plagne is the starting point for your hikes (on foot or on a mountain bike). Families can head towards the Dou du Praz on the “Balcony” route (accessible for 4x4type strollers). Sportier visitors can climb to the top of the Roche de Mio, 2700 metres above sea level with breathtaking views! Belle Plagne is also the starting point for the Via Ferrata at Les Bourtes (level moderately difficult to difficult).

Pics, Nick Roberts