Plagne Centre
Why Plagne Centre Ski Resort?
- The crossroads to the La Plagne and Paradiski ski areas
- The practical purpose-built village, with the skier in mind
- The main village of La Plagne with the most amenities
Plagne Centre (La Plagne) Information
La Plagne can be found in the Savoie region of France, in the Northern French Alps, on the edge of the Vanoise National Park. It forms part of the massive Paradiski ski area which as well as La Plagne includes Les Arcs. Les Arcs and its ski areas can be accessed via the Vanoise Express cable car which whisks skiers across the valley in 4 minutes. The double-decker cable car has, in addition to the 360° panorama, a 3-dimensional outlook courtesy of a transparent glass panel inserted into the floor of the lower level of the 2 cabins.
As you take the road from Bourg St Maurice, the first resort you come to is Plagne 1800 (so a good one if you don't want to go too far in the mountains and have a shorter transfer). Next is Plagne Bellecote at 1930m. Above Plagne Bellecote is Belle Plagne. Then above Plagne 1800 is Plagne Centre, the main resort in the area. From here, you can continue on to the right to Aime la Plagne or to the left to Plagne Villages and Plagne Soleil. Three further villages are also connected to the ski area - Montchavin-Les Coches is accessed from Landry further down the valley and lie below the Vanoise Express cable car that takes you to Les Arcs ski area. On the other side further up the valley and below Plagne Aime 2000 is the village of Montalbert. And finally, Champagny lies on the other side of the mountain altogether and has its own ski area as well being linked to the wider La Plagne territory.
Plagne Centre, at 1970m, is classed as the main village within the resort of La Plagne and is located at the very heart of the action – hence the name! It is the largest of the La Plagne villages. Here you will find the most amenities in terms of shops, services, restaurants and bars; plus other necessities such as the main pharmacy, the medical centre, cash points and the main Tourist Office. Plagne Centre may not be the most attractive of the La Plagne villages, but it is purpose-built and practical, with the skier in mind. Many of the self-catering ski residences here are classed as ski-in/ski-out.
Plagne Centre was, in fact, the very first of the La Plagne villages to be developed into a ski resort, when in 1961 two drag lifts were installed here, serving just 4 ski slopes (how times have changed!). Due to its age, it isn't the prettiest of villages and there is still a lot of concrete around. These days Plagne Centre is at the crossroads of the La Plagne ski area, with the climb up to the Grande Rochette from where you can experience one of the finest 360° panoramic views in the French Alps.
In 2018/19, there was a new look for Plagne Centre - the shopping gallery has already been renovated but now it's the entrance to Plagne Centre that's getting a facelift. Place Albert Perriere is to become an animated 'village square' offering a dynamic/multiservice activity centre. Amenities include a covered bus station, tourist office reception, a bar with panoramic views of the Mont Blanc, a 4-lane bowling alley, a natural skating rink in winter plus a Heritage and Mountain Mining exhibition room. In total, an €8m investment.
