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The French Alpine ski resort of Arc 1950 celebrates its 20th anniversary this winter with a busy programme of festivities, entertainment and events.

arc 1950 by night  france credit andy parant
Photo: Andy Parant

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Arc 1950 ski resort – a pioneering, ski-through purpose-built village – is part of the cluster of resort villages that make up Les Arcs but is markedly different from its neighbours. An entirely pedestrianised resort, designed to blend naturally and sympathetically into the landscape, Arc 1950 was the visionary gamble of Canadian promoter Intrawest, renowned for its mountain village projects in Whistler and Mont Tremblant.

The result is construction on a human scale, incorporating chalet-style design with exterior stone walls, tinted or coloured wood cladding and slate roofs to respect traditional architecture. All with exceptional mountain views and ski-in, ski-out access to the 425km of runs in the Paradiski ski area which Les Arcs shares with La Plagne.

Arc 1950 has 8 residences offering 3,900 beds, hotel services and 35 retail outlets, along with a 688-place underground car park. The resort delivers on atmosphere, too. It has several small squares which bring to life the different areas of the village. The entertainment is divided among them, so that they are all cool places where guests can gather. They are always lively, with people meeting, enjoying a drink or an open-air show. The resort’s retailers and owners are committed to this village culture and ensure that the squares are always decorated and welcoming.

The launch of the 20th anniversary celebrations took place on 16 December, along with the opening of the not-to-be-missed Les Arcs Film Festival – now in its 15th year - offering more than 120 films, professional events and other activities. The Village has dedicated the ‘Slope of Fame / Piste des Étoiles’ ski run, which runs through the streets of the resort, to the stars who have come to celebrate this exceptional event in recent years.

Photo: Prestige Photos

Over the Christmas and New Year period, the village is transformed into a festive wonderland: guests can enjoy Father Christmas parades, firework displays and entertainment from percussion groups wandering the snowy streets during Christmas week. The New Year will be brought in with live concerts, DJ and more pyrotechnic displays to bring Arc 1950 to its feet, dancing and singing!

Then on 11 and 12 January 2024, in partnership with M Radio, Arc 1950 goes ‘live’ on Thursday night with a free concert followed on Friday, with ‘M Radio Réveil’ from 6-10am, broadcasting live across France with Vincent Cerutti and Malika Menard!

From 17-24 February, and from 2-9 March, the Arc 1950 Airshow takes off! During the February holidays the ‘Barrebus team presents a host of freestyle tricks in the streets of Arc 1950! A stunning ski-show, not to be missed!

arc-1950-france
Photo: Andy Parant

And on most Thursdays throughout the season the village becomes an open-air dance floor, with concerts by pop, rock, rock’n’roll and soul groups, live in the village squares, with free aperitifs from local retailers to complete your festive experience.

There's plenty more to keep you busy, and lots of fun activities to keep guests entertained, including a snow sculpture workshop, an introduction to biathlon, scooter races on snow, plus mini golf on snow, and ski joëring.

A wide range of free activities awaits you this winter in the Arc 1950 village! Whatever your interests and those of your family, you will find a holiday to suit all tastes!

What’s it like to ski in Arc 1950?

Skiing in Arc 1950 is a delight. Paradiski is the second largest ski area in the world, with 258 slopes perched between 1,200m and 3,226m altitude. And with 70% of its slopes above 2,000m, it can be pretty sure of snow cover from early December to late April. In addition, there are 2 snow parks, 6 boardercross, 11 competition slopes, a halfpipe, waterslide and 153 km of cross-country trails. The ski area also contains activity zones: zip-wire, luminous frescos, network-connected panoramic terraces, a mountain animal museum, the Aiguille Rouge walkway, themed slopes, Yuge photo spots and more.

For non-skiers: meet at the Igloo village, or go dog-sledding or tobogganing. Whatever you decide to do, Arc 1950 is your gateway to a winter of great memories. 

arc-1950
Photo: Andy Parant

Where is Arc 1950?

Arc 1950 is part of Les Arcs ski resort located in Savoie, France, above the Tarentaise Valley town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The closest airport is Chambery (1hr 35mins) and it has the shortest transfer time. However, there is a much greater choice of airlines and flights if you fly into Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble. You can also arrive by train, to the station at Bourg-Saint-Maurice from where a funicular and shuttle buses take you up to the resort.

For more information about the fantastic 20th Birthday celebrations, go to arc1950.com

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