NOW: Arc 1800 (Charmetogger): The site of the former
Aiguille Grive restaurant, now being developed
as a hotel, 2011-12
1979: Arc 2000 1980: Death of Robert Blanc 1982: Link to VIllaroger opens 1996:Tour de France arrives at Arc 1800 2003: Arc 1950 2009: Les Arcs Film Festival 2011: Opening of stage 1 of Edenarc at Arc 1800
For more, see the Les Arcs Wikipedia entry, which includes the installation dates for every single lift....
Les Arcs has a number of cinemas: Bourg St Maurice (which has a special architecture of the 20th century label), Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950...
But it has only recently had its own film festival.
It's never been a resort which opens really early, ie the minute December arrives and there's enough snow. It's too far from Geneva & Lyon, and has no "special features" like the glaciers of Tignes or Les 2 Alpes.
The Film Festival has become a real focal point around the start of the season. Without it, the slopes would be the preserve of Staffordshire, Surrey and Coventry universities (who are on the agenda for this season).
It started slowly, but seems to have found its niche. More here. The idea is that it is an opportunity for independent film from across Europe to get a good airing. Each year there is a "special focus" (Belgium in 2012), and each year there are various meetings and workshops for film makers, producers, etc.
5/10/13 Olympic Games fever: This month sees Ferrari spending time at the La Plagne track as they test their new 2-man bob for the Italian bobsleigh team. Updated 22/12/12
Albertville was awarded the Games in 1986, and the track was built between 1988 and 1990; more here.
It's the only track in France, and appeared as part of the disastrous Annecy 2018 bid. (Here's some footage of the anti-JO campaign celebrating, by the way).
Indeed, given that it is the only one in France, it also formed part of the Grenoble 2018 bid as well (the venue for the 1968 Olympics, along with Nice, losing out to Annecy for the right to be France's "candidate city"). It's worth a look at the Grenoble promotional video, as it's truly dreadful:
Annecy's loss was a big blow to the La Plagne track; 6m€ were spent on the track in 2008, and it costs 800-900,000€ to keep it going each year. In an article in Le Dauphiné last year, the Mayor of La Plagne put a brave face on things, but did say that they will need to redouble their marketing efforts to attract people to the site - more here.
For the moment, the track doesn't seem to be falling into dispute. Indeed it hosted a round of the Bobsleigh World Cup in 2012, and is open for business until 7 April.
Here's a link to the La Plagne bobsleigh club's site. And from the official site, here's the "Bob Experience". Last season's prices ranged from 39€ for a place in an automatic "bob-raft" (80km/h) to 111€ for 3 people to go in the real thing, together with a professional driver, and reach 120 km/h....
You can read more about what it's like to take the trip in this Guardian article from December 2012.
