© Arc 1950
© Arc 1950
© Les Arcs
© Arc 1950
© Arc 1950
Les Arcs 1950
The prettiest chocolate-box style village of all the Les Arcs resorts
Developed by the same company as Whistler in Canada, Arc 1950 is an exceptionally pretty, compact, high-altitude village just below Arc 2000. It feels like a Disney set, with the whole resort completely pedestrianised and car free. In fact, you can ski right through the centre during the winter. With all the accommodation (and shops and restaurants) allowing ski-in-ski-out access to the pistes, it's absolutely ideal for a winter break.
Arc 1950 is perhaps the most exclusive of the Les Arcs resorts, with all of the apartment buildings managed by either Radisson or Pierre et Vacances. It also features some of the most high-end shops in the area, with prestigious clothing and ski equipment on offer. There is a real ‘village feel’ to the resort and a good selection of cafés, restaurants and bars encourages many people to stay local in the evenings. Arc 2000, with its own selection of eateries, entertainments and events is a very close neighbour, connected by the free Cabriolet gondola or just a short walk up the hill.
Sights & Attractions in Arc 1950
One of the key attractions of Arc 1950 is its altitude. During the winter you are absolutely guaranteed great snow at 1,950m, even very early or very late in the season.
An attraction in its own right, the picturesque, beautifully constructed village retains a sense of calm seclusion by hiding all the cars in a vast underground car park. So it remains completely accessible whilst being car free. Once here there are excellent views toward La Rosière and, if you enjoy spectacular panoramas, you are not far from the gondolas leading up to the Aiguille Rouge peak (at 3,226m) which affords incredible views of the entire French Alps.
Things to do in Arc 1950
The winter is all about skiing. Arc 1950 is exceptionally well-connected to the pistes, with the whole resort effectively being ski-in ski-out.
Also, during the winter season, there is a comprehensive calendar of events, with each week having a different theme and entertainment centring around the main square. Christmas is marked with impressive musical parades! In the summertime, the main events occur on ‘special Wednesdays’ with themes including bike week, medieval times, the far west and fairground games.
If you fancy a bit of rest and relaxation, the Deep Nature Spa is impressively styled as a series of underground caves. The Arc 1950 hotels also feature indoor and, in summer, outdoor heated pools. Furthermore, with Arc 2000 being so close, there are even more ‘things to do’ right on the doorstep.
Dining in Arc 1950
There is a good range of restaurants in Arc 1950, ranging from quick and easy snack bars like Meli’s to a full, gourmet dining experience in La Table des Lys. A great option for breakfast is the Wood Bear café which serves great coffee as well as reasonably-priced lunches and early-evening apéro. Perhaps the most well-known restaurant in Arc 1950 is La Vache Rouge – they serve many Savoyard favourites and specialise in spit-roasted, hand-carved meats.
Nightlife in Arc 1950
In the village are a few bars, a pub and a late-night club. With Arc 1950 being so compact, often a place which serves midday lunch can be a popular night-time drinking spot. Alternatively, an early-morning breakfast café might serve some of the best après-ski drinks.
Regardless of the name, Les Belles Pintes is an Irish pub with gaelic styling, Guinness on tap, a pool table and good-value happy hours. Le Chalet de Luigi does everything; positioned right on the piste, it is a restaurant serving lunch and dinner, a bar for live music and sports on TV, and a club for after-hours dancing. O’Chaud is similarly versatile, although it is less food-orientated; a cosy bar during the day, the dance music kicks in at night and continues into the early hours of the morning. For a general early evening (or après ski) beverage, Wood Bear café always has a good selection of beers on tap whilst George’s Wine Bar is an amateur sommelier’s dream.
Apartments in Arc 1950
There are eight apartment buildings in the Arc 1950 village, each managed by either Pierre et Vacances or Radisson. The resort was only developed in 2003 and all available accommodation is both modern and well-maintained. There is a vast underground car park beneath the village, which means your vehicle is normally only an elevator-trip away from your front door.
