LA Radio Station

Les Arcs' fans will enjoy the R' Les Arcs Facebook page - which this week has been going back in time with these snowy retro pictures of Arc 1800.

I didn't know that the iconic L'Etranger bar (previously the Gabotte bar) was at one point called Le Grenier (the attic).

For more on the history of Les Arcs, including the story of Robert Blanc and the architecture of Charlotte Perriand, click here.

Back to the radio station.  If you are very keen, and can cope with its mixture of current Europop and 1980s hits - you can listen live from the comfort of your own living room.

WHAT'S NEW IN LA PLAGNE

La Plagne's piste map for the coming year is now available online via the ever attentive Perso-LaPlagne site.

It sees the realisation of further developments to the ski area, as per their long term plan.

On the agenda for the coming season:

• The new "Envers" chairlift
• The retirement of piste bullies from the Glacier - the pistes up there will now be "Natur" slopes, with 10 new itineraries created in the process
• A new fun slope in the Arpette area
• Some tinkering around with piste names at the margins

The website now has its winter skin, including prices for ski passes.  At 59€ a day or €259 a week, the price is exactly the same as over the road in Les Arcs - where the lifts are also run by Compagnie des Alpes. 

The creation of the "Natur" ski slopes on the Glacier makes my favourite La Plagne descent - all the way down to Montchavinn - even more enticing.  You do have to do a bit of poling on the flat Bauches track, but it's worth it, and is a worthy rival to Les Arcs' more famous Aiguille Rouge run.