Starting in 1906, the town of Villard-de-Lans was recognized as a
ski resort. More facilities were built during the 1920s that allowed the town to host its first bobsled and
luge competition in 1931. For over a decade, the town was connected to the prefecture centre of
Grenoble by a tram called the
Tramway Grenoble - Villard-de-Lans. The tram, which also serviced the towns of
Lans-en-Vercors and
Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte, had completely seized operations by 1949.
World War II During World War II, Villard-de-Lans was host to the only
Polish high school in
Occupied Europe. There is a plaque on the old building memorializing the names of the numerous students and teachers who were deported to camps by the occupying force during the war. The region was home to several thousand Poles, people in hiding, military defectors and evaders, as well as members of the
French Resistance. Due to these circumstances, and its proximity to Grenoble, the historically rural and mountainous commune of Villar-de-Lans became a refuge for the resistance against the
German occupation and led to the formation of the
Maquis du Vercors, a group of fighters that were part of the
French Forces of the Interior. After the war, Charles de Gaulle paid homage to the fighters of the Vercors by visiting Villard-de-Lans in 1948. During his visit, de Gaulle gave a speech in which he tried to discuss the controversy, which was still very strong at the time, vis-à-vis the attitude of Free France's leader and allies regarding the Maquis du Vercors.
1968 Winter Olympics During the
1968 Winter Olympics held in neighbouring
Grenoble, Villard-de-Lans played host to the
luge events. Costing
FRF 3,190,000 to complete, the Olympic luge track was completed using of
earthwork and of
reinforced concrete. The facility had three start houses, 132 lighting posts,
telephone circuitry, 40 loudspeakers, and a signalling system for the competitors. No turn names are given for the track. Data from the women's singles or men's doubles also not given. == Tourism ==