Les Arcs Activities - Indoor / Bad Weather

Arcades & 10 Pin Bowling

Les Villards in Arc 1800 is the place to head if you want to practice your strikes. With 8 lanes as well as pool/billiard tables, arcade games and internet access there is plenty to keep you occupied when the weather isn't looking too great. Look out for their 'disco bowling' and other theme nights; there are special 'bumper lanes' for children and beginners. You'll find draught beers and an array of cocktails at the bar as well as bar snacks and light meals. The bowling allley can be hired out for private functions and if you enquire with the management they can organise all sorts of entertainments, decorations and party food for your event. Click here for contact details. Open every day from 2pm to 2am, may open as early as 11am on bad weather days.

last updated 9-Jun-2008

Beauty, Spa & Massage

If you are not here for the outdoors ‘extreme’ lifestyle and would prefer a more relaxing break in Les Arcs, then you'll be pleased to hear that there is an altogether more pleasurable experience to be had at one of the many Spa and Beauty centres in town. There are a number of excellent beauticians in the town, offering massages, facials, manicures and body treatments - all designed to meet your needs, whether it be a hen weekend, or day of girlie pampering for you and your friends. Check out our Spas & Salons listings for further information. (Gentlemen, this is not a ladies restricted activity though, it's just as applicable for all you 'real men' out there who are not afraid to indulge in a spot of off-piste pampering!) Of course, with all the sporting activities in Les Arcs, there are many qualified physiotherapists and masseurs in town to help take your daily stresses, aches and pains away. Details of local physiotherapists, masseurs and holistic practitioners can be found on our Health & Fitness section.

last updated 4-Jun-2008

Cinema

Les Arcs has three cinemas: one at Place du Soleil in 1600, one at Le Charvet in 1800 and another at Place Haute in 2000; there is also Le Savoie in Bourg Saint Maurice. They all show the latest French and international films. If you want to see an English-language film find out beforehand whether it is being shown in French, English (version originale) or with subtitles (sous-titres). Watching a film with subtitles can be a great way to learn a few new French phrases - their usefulness will depend entirely on the kind of film you are watching though! See here for further details.

last updated 6-Jun-2008

Fitness & Sports Centre

The Les Arcs Club des Sports has a well-equipped sports centre in Arc 1800. It is open from Sunday to Friday; mornings from 8.45am to 12.00 and afternoons from 1.45pm to 5pm. Cards can be bought for various activities including trampolining, judo, squash, boxing, fencing, petanque and much more. There are also supervised courses available for outdoor and mountain sports. The centre also has a great swimming pool with spa pool, waterslide and children's paddling pool. The outdoor adventure garden features 25 different courses through the forest with monkey bridges, suspension bridges, balancing beams, rope bridges, walkways and Tarzan swings. Enquire here for prices and further details.

last updated 9-Jun-2008

Grotte de Glace (Ice Caves)

Situated at the top of the Transarc gondola in Arc 2000, the “Grotte de Glace” is quite an extraordinary place to visit. Dozens of sculptors from all over Europe spend a week here at the start of each season, carving wonderfully exotic figures out of the snow and ice. The theme of the caves changes each year but has included the Terracotta Army, Attila the Hun and Chinese dragons, all expertly fashioned by hand. Although still cold inside, the caves tend to hold a fairly constant temperature and can provide welcome relief from the wind and snow outside. Even if you’ve been before, they are definitely worth the €4 entrance fee (€3 for children). See here for further details.

last updated 6-Jun-2008

Museums & Galleries

The rocky landscape of the Alps is rich with crystals and minerals - some of the earliest explorers were crystal hunters. You can see a remarkable dislpay of these sparkly treasures and learn about their history at the Mineral Museum in Bourg Saint Maurice. The apple orchards of the Tarentaise have produced fruit for cider, pork dishes and apple tarts for generations and are a large part of local history. However, modern farming methods are seeing the traditional orchards becoming slowly abandoned and a way of life becoming seriously threatened. La Petite Maison de la Pomme, at Chal near Bourg-Saint-Maurice, enables you to understand this priceless heritage and a project is being set up in the Tarentaise area to save the orchards. To get a sense of Les Arcs and the surrounding villages why not take a guided heritage walk? You can visit Baroque churches, ancient chapels, historic mills and traditional backstreets on these informative walking tours. Prices range from 5-9€ for an adult and 3-5€ for a child, please enquire at the Tourist Office for times and dates.

last updated 9-Jun-2008

Shopping in Les Arcs

Too much temptation in Cascade Sucrée... The various levels of Les Arcs offer a variety of shops; from sports gear, to fashion to local produce. Obviously one of the most highly represented shops in town is the sports shop; there is nothing you can’t find related to Alpine sports here in Les Arcs. Tip Top and Cristina Sport are amongst the most popular and Concept Board Shop comes recommended, but there are many more to choose from depending on what you are looking for. Have a look at our Ski Rental / Sports Shops page to find these sport shops and more. For sampling some of the local flavour you can stock up on cheeses and cured meats at any of the local epiceries, laiteries or fromageries. Many are happy to let you have a taste before you make a decision so don’t be afraid to ask! Those of you with a sweet tooth should head to Cascade Sucrée in Arcs 1950 for a real sugar rush! This old style sweet shop will have your mouth watering; not only do they have wall-to-wall jars of sweets but they also serve waffles, ice cream and hot chocolate on their terrace. For more day-to-day items there are a number of supermarkets including Spar, Intermarché, Sherpa and Altimarket. If you fancy getting out and about a bit then why not pop down to Bourg St Maurice, a typical Savoyarde town at the end of the Tarentaise valley? Easily reached via the funicular from Arc 1600, Bourg is also the terminus of the Ski Train in winter. You will find many shops and a couple of museums to visit here and plenty choice of cafes and restaurants for a bite to eat. There is a weekly market held each Saturday, selling fresh local produce. Holders of a 6 day lift pass can also use the swimming pool and ice rink free of charge. With a permanent population of around 8000 inhabitants, there is a real year round buzz to the town. In the summer, Bourg hosts a number of sporting events such as the ICF world canoe and kayak championships, a stage of the North Face Ultra Trail and in 2007, a stage of the Saab Salomon Mountain X race. Don’t forget though, that with the exception of the eateries, everywhere else will generally be closed between 12 noon and 3pm for lunch. To browse the shops of Les Arcs please visit our Shopping page.

last updated 6-Jun-2008

Tennis & Squash

Les Arcs offers a grand total of 30 tennis courts as well as the services of the Nastase Academy. You can take a one-off refresher lesson, sign up for a course or enter one of the many tournaments that take place. Children from the age of 5 can also join in, with special lessons tailored to their needs. For those of you who really like to build up a sweat there are squash courts at the Sports Centre in Arc 1800.

last updated 9-Jun-2008