La Plagne, France, from military zone to worlds largest skiing and snowboarding resort

La Plagne is considered part of the Paradiski ski area. If you've never heard of Paradiski, it is one of not only Europe's but also the world's largest skiing and snowboarding places in the world.

La Plagne lies in the Savoie Valley in France. In the early 1960s, La Plagne began to change and actually lose its population. People didn't have work and life was too hard, so many families packed up and headed for the cities. The industrialization even grasped this part of France. Some locals, however, stayed and thought of ways to save the town. Four townships in the area got together and brainstormed in order to save their world. Well, locals had been skiing in the area for a long time, so they though of bringing outside people to ski here. In the beginning, word spread slowly. The tourist that did come came and slept with families or rented the few available rooms. In the latter half of the 1960s, the locals constructed some lifts and built a couple small accommodations for tourists. Soon, a road had been asphalted. People hearing of Emily Allais came far and wide to the slopes eventually in the ensuing years of the sixties. People who came as tourist would often help make the pistes on their free time. It took a lot of volunteers to get the pistes ready in the ongoing years. La Plagne's history is a bit different that other ski towns. La Plagne use to be a military zone; or, more specifically, a place where the military stored certain weapons to use later against the Germans. In the center of town there is a cenotaph dedicated to the British aircrew that flew by to drop ammunition. Though the history was a sad and bloody one, the memory of those that fought through the hardest times and toughest wars are never forgotten. There are quite a few plaques and panels dedicated to those who fought. La Plagne French ski resort has over one hundred square kilometers of downhill, cross-country and other pistes to tackle. There are over 200 km of slopes to boot. The general area lies at just over 1200 meters and reaches up over 3200 meters at Bellecote. If you'd like to stay at a little lower altitude, however, you can separate from the family and meet up later due to the great system that interlinks area resorts. There are around 12 beginner runs, 20 expert runs, 70 intermediate and 30 advanced runs. On and off the pistes, you'll always have plenty to see and do in La Plagne. All the ski resorts in La Plagne vary not only in price but also in altitude. If you like to stay at a medium height to avoid those high altitude headaches, then you can stay in any number of places less than 1400 meters high. These include Montchavin La Plagne, Champagny La Plagne, Plagne Montalbert and Les Coches. The others, all under 1800 meters are Plagne 1800, Plagne Villages, Bell Plagne, Plagne Centre, and Plagne Bellectote. The cost to ski at La Plagne won't entirely break your bank account, but the prices are not all that cheap. A one day ski pass for adults and children is €42 and €31. A six day ski pass can save you a little money, with €203 and €152 for adults and children. During the high season, the prices go up by 5 per day, so a six day pass is €243 and €182 for adults and children. Seniors will pay the same as children, with ages for each at 65-71 and children ages 6-13.