Gîte
Encyclopedia
"Gîte" is a French
term which refers to a specific type of holiday accommodation. A "Gîte" is a holiday home that is available for rent. Gîtes are usually fully furnished and equipped for self-catering. Many owners choose to handle their own rentals, and you can find these by searching online on the multitude of listing sites or by checking with the local tourist information office.
Technically speaking, to be called a gîte, the owner must live close by in order to provide help, assistance, and a warm welcome to guests. Gîtes are generally old farmworkers' cottages or converted outbuildings and barns within proximity of the owners' principal residence. This type of holiday accommodation is sometimes regarded as 'basic' in terms of facilities; however, most gîtes are generally very well kept, and a growing number will have excellent facilities such as fully fitted kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, TV, DVD and access to a swimming pool or other sporting activities. The term gîte nowadays encompasses most forms of holiday cottage and even holiday flats or apartments. Many gîtes will also accept pets.
The term gîte originally meant quite simply a form of shelter. Gîtes today vary from being luxury holiday homes to very basic apartments. Some gîtes don't provide linen
as standard, so many gîte holiday makers take their linen with them. However, many gîte owners do include linen at least as an option.
Gîtes are encouraged by the local tourist board and planning authorities as they attract investment and tourism.
All gîte owners are required to ensure that their gîtes are safe and comply with the necessary rules, regulations and insurance requirements.
In French-speaking regions of Europe, several associations regroup gîte owners:
- in France: Gîtes de France, Bienvenue à la ferme, Accueil Paysan and Cleavacances;
- in Belgium: Fédération des Gîtes de Wallonie and Accueil Champêtre en Wallonie;
- in Switzerland: tourisme-rural.ch.
Gîte Rural
Gîtes d'Enfants
Gîtes d'Etape
"Gîte Equestre"
Chalets-Loisirs
Chambre d'Hôtes
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
term which refers to a specific type of holiday accommodation. A "Gîte" is a holiday home that is available for rent. Gîtes are usually fully furnished and equipped for self-catering. Many owners choose to handle their own rentals, and you can find these by searching online on the multitude of listing sites or by checking with the local tourist information office.
Technically speaking, to be called a gîte, the owner must live close by in order to provide help, assistance, and a warm welcome to guests. Gîtes are generally old farmworkers' cottages or converted outbuildings and barns within proximity of the owners' principal residence. This type of holiday accommodation is sometimes regarded as 'basic' in terms of facilities; however, most gîtes are generally very well kept, and a growing number will have excellent facilities such as fully fitted kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, TV, DVD and access to a swimming pool or other sporting activities. The term gîte nowadays encompasses most forms of holiday cottage and even holiday flats or apartments. Many gîtes will also accept pets.
The term gîte originally meant quite simply a form of shelter. Gîtes today vary from being luxury holiday homes to very basic apartments. Some gîtes don't provide linen
Bedding
Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, to protect the mattress, and for decorative effect. Bedding is the removable and washable portion of a human sleeping environment. It is more easily and economically replaced than the bed itself...
as standard, so many gîte holiday makers take their linen with them. However, many gîte owners do include linen at least as an option.
Gîtes are encouraged by the local tourist board and planning authorities as they attract investment and tourism.
All gîte owners are required to ensure that their gîtes are safe and comply with the necessary rules, regulations and insurance requirements.
In French-speaking regions of Europe, several associations regroup gîte owners:
- in France: Gîtes de France, Bienvenue à la ferme, Accueil Paysan and Cleavacances;
- in Belgium: Fédération des Gîtes de Wallonie and Accueil Champêtre en Wallonie;
- in Switzerland: tourisme-rural.ch.
Gîte classes
A number of classes of gîte are defined and graded by Gîtes de France. These are:Gîte Rural
- Offers self-catering accommodation located in the countryside, by the sea, or in the mountains. The gîte is completely self contained with one or more bedrooms, a lounge or dining room, a kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Gîtes d'Enfants
- Holidays for children. During the school holidays host families provide lodging for children of various ages with a wide variety of activities. Children's gîtes are regulated and inspected to ensure a safe and secure environment for each child.
Gîtes d'Etape
- Stopover and holiday getaways off the beaten track for groups of walkers or cyclists. The English equivalent is most probably a youth hostel.
"Gîte Equestre"
- A staging post for people or groups travelling across France on horseback; or gîte offering stabling for horses.
Chalets-Loisirs
- A complex of wooden cottages set in the countryside providing various activities, such as, fishing, horse-riding, archery, cycling.
Chambre d'Hôtes
- Bed and BreakfastBed and breakfastA bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
the French way. Stay as a guest in a private home with a full breakfast provided. Some hosts offer Table d'Hôtes (table service) which provide half board or full board service. If Table d'Hôtes is not available there is usually a local restaurant available for evening meals.
- The term "gîte" is sometimes confused with "chambre d'hôtes" but the fact is the two are different. A "chambre d'hôtes" is necessarily lived in by the service provider and breakfast served each morning. A "gîte" is a holiday home in an independent building. A chambre d'hôtes thus is more akin to an English bed-and-breakfast.