Plagne Bellecôte – La Plagne’s “dam” Plagne Bellecôte (1930 m)

Plagne Bellecôte’s nickname initially sounds surprising, because you don’t expect to see a dam in the Alps. However, when you arrive at the modern ski station, at an altitude of 1930m, you understand how Plagne Bellecôte came by this unusual nickname. Opened in 1974, the station is basically built out of one single, impressive construction that actually looks like a giant dam.

There are two large wooden clad apartment complexes built in the shape of a large wave in the middle of the La Plagne ski resort, where winter sports fans will find everything they need for a perfect skiing holiday. Modern holiday apartments, shopping passages, restaurants, cafes, bars, a disco, a cinema and a sports centre. A highlight of the station is the heated outdoor swimming pool in the middle of the ski station that holders of a ski pass can use for free.

A real bonus of the modern ski station is that Plagne Bellecôte is directly linked with the eponymous Bellecôte glacier. Since 1975 there has been a cable car that goes from Plagne Bellecôte to the summit of Roche de Mio, at an altitude of 2500m. Since 1978 there has been a second cable car that travels up to the Bellecôte glacier, at an altitude of 3250m. Skiers can therefore get directly from Plagne Bellecôte to the highest point of the ski resort in less than 40 minutes.

Directly linked with the glacier

Plagne Bellecôte isn’t just the ideal starting point for tours of the glacier. There are also 4 chair lifts in close proximity to the apartment complexes, like the cable car, that can quickly take skiers across the whole of the La Plagne ski resort or over to the Les Coches ski station. From there the double-decker cable car, Vanoise Express, takes skiers quickly and conveniently to the Les Arcs ski resort that, together with La Plagne, forms the vast skiing region of Paradiski.

Winter sports fans can therefore choose from the 225km of slopes in La Plagne or the 425km of slopes across the whole of the Paradiski ski resort. In addition there are 8 generously-sized areas for boarders, including snow parks, boarder cross trails and half-pipes, numerous freeriding slopes and several cross-country skiing areas.

There is also a high-altitude cross-country trail right next to Plagne Bellecôte, a practice area suitable for children and beginners, a powder snow slope and a freestyle zone close to the station. This small snow park can be reached using the Les Blanchets or Colosses lift, and has a half-pipe and a few obstacles.

There are additional snow parks near to Belle Plagne, one near the Les Blanchets lift that starts in Plagne Bellecôte, and another in the Montchavin-Les Coches area close to the Dos Rond chair lift, that can also be easily reached by chair lift from Plagne Bellecôte.

From the slopes into the pool

Plagne Bellecôte offers as much fun off the pistes as on them. You can choose from outdoor activities such as ice-skating on the station’s own ice rink, going on a snowmobile tour or a snow shoe hike. An ideal activity after a day on the slopes is a dip in the heated outdoor swimming pool in the centre of Plagne Bellecôte.

If you’re looking for more wellness, skiers can relax in the Spa Bellecôte located in the shopping passage and enjoy the hammam, whirlpool, sauna, solarium, a massage or a beauty treatment.

Plagne Bellecôte wants to ensure that families have as relaxing a skiing holiday as possible, and so the younger generation are well catered for. Little guests, aged 2-5 years old, can enjoy the “Mini Club” and there is a nursery, “Ile des enfants” for children from 3-6 years old.

Skiers in Plagne Bellecôte who are looking for a variety of evening entertainment don’t need to leave the building. On the ground and lower-ground floor of the apartment complexes there are a number of restaurants and bars as well as a cinema, a disco and an amusement arcade. If you’re looking for more variety than that, the cable car goes to Belle Plagne even after the lifts have closed for the day, and there is plenty of après-ski to be found there.