Gîtes de France®: the label

We have all seen this label somewhere. But what does it actually mean and what does it stand for? Here is everything you need to know about the Gîtes de France® label, let's go!

What exactly is Gîtes de France®?

First of all, Gîtes de France® is:

• Alabel
• Abrand
• Anetwork... ofhome-stayaccommodation in France and across Europe.

The Fédération nationale des Gîtes de France® (FNGF) association was set up in 1955 in the Basses-Alpes. The aim? To develop home-based tourist accommodation in France. Why? To fight against rural depopulation. The logic here is simple: if the countryside is abandoned in favour of the big cities, buildings risk falling into ruin. And yet, living in a city, people want to head back to the countryside at the weekend, so there has to be somewhere for city dwellers to stay. Hence the creation of gîtes to host them!

How do they work? They are run by département, with a national federation above them. The labels awarded (écogîtes and gîtes panda) and the classification are granted by each département.

They have their own classification system: here we do not talk about stars but about épis (1 to 5).

Values and accommodation

Gîtes de France® is built on 4 core values:

• Sharing: stays offering the best possible welcome and comfort
• Authenticity: meeting the expectations of visitors looking for authenticity, a friendly atmosphere and genuine experiences
• Responsibility: showcasing local heritage and developing so-called "sustainable" tourism
• Commitment: contributing to local employment and to the appeal of the region

 

As for the accommodation, more than 56,000 properties, you will find gîtes and bed and breakfasts. For some time now, you have also been able to choose your stay by theme: quirky, prestige, gourmet and more. Everything you need to be sure of finding your next holiday destination! Now that the Gîtes de France® label holds no more secrets for you, why not set off on a micro-adventure in one of them?