Gîtes de France, a commitment to quality

A chalet in Haute-Ubaye, a Provencal mas nearby Forcalquier, a hillside farm over the Gorges du Verdon... The various ranges of gîtes only equal their quality. For more than 50 years, our priority has always been to provide top quality products to our clients in terms of welcoming, accommodation and environment. Each structure fits an ensemble of precise standards, still keeping its own identity. Ecogîte, Panda gîte, snow gîte... all specific and original products.

Even with the first gîtes : quality was the key

Obligations to obtain the Gîte de France label in 1955 (year of the foundation) seem rudimentary nowadays :

·         Electricity in all rooms,

·         Clean drinking water,

·         sink,

·         toilet.

They were in fact ahead of their time. For back in the day, only 20% of the rural houses had access to running water and only 1 out of 3 had toilets.

The establishment of gîtes, throughout the 60s, allowed a huge saving operation of rural habitat and offer to city dwellers, who didn’t fancy much better life conditions than farmers,comfortable vacation houses. Quickly, gîtes multiplied and diversified themselves. By the end of the60’s, France dreams of skiing and, right after Grenoble Olympic Games, snow gîtes are born.

1969 witnesses the creation of bed and breakfasts, 1970 the creation of tables d’hôtes. The rural world is getting ready to make the tourists discover their country.

A spectacular modernisation

The 70’s witnesses the end of rural exodus. The countryside faces repopulation and modernisation. In the meantime, city-dwellers dream of a return to basics. And rural tourism is getting structured with 10,000 gîtes in 1970. In 1971 the first gîtes reservation platform is created in Isère, as well as children gîtes and farm camping sites.

In 1974, the house of the Gîtes de France settles in Paris.

In the 80’s, thanks to the fifth week of paid vacations, the ‘’chèques vacances’’ and the TGV, travelling to the countryside becomes easier. Rural tourism turns green and tourists become more and more active. The notion of quality goes up a level. From now on, equipments aren’t only comfortable anymore. They have charm and are nicely decorated.

In 1990 the fourth ear comes to life, 1998 will witness the birth of the fifth.

A model of development

From the 90’s, France receives approximately 50 millions of tourists per year. Even though the agricultural world faces difficulties, gîtes are becoming more professional (lightining, decoration, garden…). Each region tries to measure the satisfaction of the tourists.

Britanny even invents the mistery visitor, who anonymously evaluates structures, a concept which will be followed by many departments including the Alpes de Haute-Provence.

In 1995, a national satisfaction survey give the fantastic grade of 9.52/10 to the gîtes de France. 4 years later, the National Federation created its first website.

Today, a new tourist is born : environment-friendly yet more used to new technologies. To fulfil his desires, new kinds of gîtes were created like the ecogîtes, which are numerous in Haute-Provence.

The action of the Gîtes de France is an example of sustainable development : preservation of the rural habitat, safeguard of the local economy, promotion of local culture.

In the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence : a customised welcoming

The departmental office of the Gîtes de France in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence developed, for several years, specific thematic stays in order to propose prestations that fit the desires of the toursits. It's also the occasion to enhance some characteristics of the Haute-Provence : astronomy, geology, thermal baths…

You can check here all the themes and the accommodations which they are related to