World-class freestyle skiing champion reveals favorite spots in France

A world-class freestyle skiing champion has recently shared her favorite spots in France's La Plagne, a ski resort she calls home, with BBC. 

Tess Ledeux, who grew up on the slopes of La Plagne, has become a world-class freestyle champion. Here, she shares her recommendations for her home slope, from après-ski spots to breathtaking Alpine views.

Located in Savoie, France, La Plagne is widely recognized as a family-friendly Alpine destination, but it also has notable Olympic history. In 1992, it served as the bobsledding venue for the Albertville Olympics, and it is hopeful to repeat this feat in 2030 when the French Alps are set to host the Winter Olympics. La Plagne is also the home of French ski prodigy Tess Ledeux, an Olympic medalist and holder of 16 freestyle World Cup victories.

Ledeux took a break from her intense training and competition schedule to speak with the BBC about her favorite places to eat, drink, and ski in La Plagne. "I grew up in La Plagne, so for me, it will always be unique," says Ledeux, who recently won a big air event at the FIS Freeski World Cup in Beijing and is one of France’s top contenders for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics. "I would get home from school and build little jumps for my skis or sledge in front of our apartment. The ski resort is really big, but it’s the slopes that make it so special. They have everything: runs for beginners and professional skiers, a glacier, a forest..."

La Plagne, conceived by French Brutalist architect Michel Bezançon in 1961, was designed specifically for alpine skiing. This vision led to the creation of functional ski-in-ski-out apartment blocks at reliable snow altitudes and a modern, efficient lift system. While the resort may not boast obvious natural beauty, it is beloved by families for its affordable, mostly self-catering accommodation and its wide range of outdoor activities, catering to all ages and skill levels both on and off the slopes.

Bezançon made sure his resort in the once-untouched Tarantaise Valley reached impressive heights; 11 interconnected villages in La Plagne stretch dramatically up the mountainside from the town of Aime on the valley floor to the resort village of Aime 2000 at 2,100 meters, culminating in a striking zigzag of urban residences. Resembling ocean liners, the 50-meter-high, 250-meter-long, pyramid-shaped apartment blocks were part of the Pompidou government's controversial Plan Neige (1964-77), which advocated for the creation of new, fully serviced mountain "towns" on untouched high-altitude sites.

Ledeux’s favorite viewpoint of this architectural marvel? "Grande Rochette – the 360-degree view from the summit is just amazing," she says. "You can see Courchevel, Méribel and most of the Les Trois Vallées, the Grande Motte [3,453m] peak, the glacier in Tignes, and all the slopes in La Plagne." Ledeux recommends taking the Grande Rochette cable car from Plagne Centre at any time of day. "It’s always beautiful." Early risers eager for fresh corduroy can join the ski patrol at sunrise for first-track skiing from the 2,500-meter-high summit, enjoying panoramic views without the crowds.

By Naila Huseynova