Arc 1600

Arc 1600: the architectural birthplace and eco-friendly gateway to Paradiski. The first village of the Les Arcs ski resort to open, in 1968, Arc 1600 is the pioneer of the Tarentaise Valley, largely shaped by architect and designer Charlotte Perriand to blend into the mountainside. Its innovative integration into the landscape has earned it the Remarkable Contemporary Architecture label awarded by the French Ministry of Culture. Nestled at 1,600 metres in the heart of a fir forest, this car-free, family-friendly village combines unspoilt nature with modern comfort, offering a peaceful atmosphere and mostly ski-in/ski-out accommodation. Its greatest asset is the direct link from Bourg-Saint-Maurice TGV station via the Les Arcs Express funicular (formerly Arc-en-Ciel), which takes you up to the resort in just 7 minutes. It's the ideal setup for a car-free ski holiday with a lower carbon footprint.

A ski area between forest and high altitude, gateway to Paradiski. From the Arc 1600 snow front, two high-speed chairlifts, Cachette and Mont-Blanc, open up the Les Arcs ski area and the entire Paradiski area with its 425 kilometres of slopes. The red Cachette run delights sporty skiers, while the long blue Mont-Blanc run winds through the forest with stunning views of the Mont Blanc massif. Via the blue Belvédère run, skiers reach Arc 1800 within minutes, then the Peisey-Vallandry sector and the Vanoise Express cable car linking to La Plagne. Arc 1600's tree-lined runs are a real asset in poor weather, while the high-altitude terrain of Arc 2000 and the Aiguille Rouge (3,226 m) remains within reach for big ski days.

Family-friendly excellence and a relaxed après-ski. Like all of Les Arcs, Arc 1600 holds the Famille Plus family-friendly label and offers plenty of non-ski activities for families and anyone seeking to recharge: snowshoe trails through the forest, dog sledding and a safe snow front for children's first slides. At the end of the day, the atmosphere stays warm and authentic around the local shops and sunny terraces, with beautiful sunsets over the Tarentaise Valley. Freestylers reach the Les Arcs snowpark via the Cachette and Arpette lifts, while the Club Med Les Arcs Panorama, located in Arc 1600, completes the offer with its premium wellness facilities.

History and practical information: Arc Pierre Blanche, where it all began. Les Arcs was born in the 1960s from the meeting of Robert Blanc, a local high-mountain guide, and Roger Godino, a visionary resort developer. Originally named Arc Pierre Blanche, the village welcomed its first guests in 1968 with the opening of the Les Trois Arcs hotel, and became the architectural laboratory for the whole resort, with tiered buildings following the slope and landmark structures such as La Coupole. In 1974, a cable car linked Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Arc 1600; it was replaced in 1989 by today's funicular. In practical terms, Bourg-Saint-Maurice station is served by TGV high-speed trains, making Arc 1600 the fastest Les Arcs village to reach by rail. The airports of Chambéry (around 2 hours), Lyon-Saint-Exupéry and Geneva (around 3 hours) are also within reach, and free inter-village shuttle buses connect Arc 1600 with Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000.