The ordinary exception or the creation of the first rural gîte in France

It's in 1951 in La Javie, that the first rural gîte was created in an ancient barn. Since then, the Alpes de Haute-Provence are proud of their rural welcoming tradition inherited from generations of farmers who cared about offering convivial holidays by sharing their passion and love for their land.

France, a changing country

The 50’s were, for the whole country, the period of reconstruction. WW2 trauma slowly fades away for new generations and the new governments multiply great projects, even though three main subjects preoccupy them: Transports, school and Europe.

Luckily, the subsidies of the Plan Marshall help for the reconstruction. It’s the period of the great industrialisation, particularly in the automobile industry. Each year, approximately 100,000 farmers leave their farm to become workers. Rural Exodus has a big impact, especially in mountaineer zones. These economic changes are coupled with social changes. Women obtained the right to vote in 1945, and Social Security was created the same year, and the first Work councils two years later. In 1956, paid vacations go from 15 to 18 days. France starts to dream about holidays, and the 3CV became the emblematic car of middle classes. However, in the 50’s, only 6% of the French go on holidays, they’ll be 30% in the 60’s.

New ideas become concrete, especially in the social tourism area. The holiday camps multiply to welcome the new-born babies of the Baby Boom (900,000 births per year). In 1953, the CNJA (National Centre of Young Farmers) create the association Agriculture and Tourism. And in 1959, for the first time, a General Commissioner of Tourism appears in the government. In the meantime, the first holiday village, Renouveau, opened in Courchevel in 1954. All over the country, public power and associations mix tourism and education.

Thus the first rural gîte was born

The situation of the Basses-Alpes is worrying. This country,mainly agricultural, with little industry, which suffered a lot from the war, sees its children flee to the cities each day. The countryside empties itself and countless unoccupied houses are found. On the other side the farmers who decided to stay, most of them on little exploitations, faced harsh times.

This is when Emilie Aubert, mayor of Barcelonnette and General Counsellor, catches the attention of the Tourism secretary and the Minister of Agriculture. The idea of this, engineer, former resistant, is original. It’s about creating a new source of income for farmers by restoring old buildings while offering modest urban families the possibility to enjoy countryside holidays. For a couple of years, the Logis de France appeared and the inhabitants of the seaside, Marseillais in particular, took the habit to send their holidays in the Southern Alps. Emilie Aubert’s project seduced. The Crédit Agricole and the Crédit Hôtelier accept to lend money to the farmers to restore their buildings. The Ministry of Agriculture also gives subsidies.

The only matter now is to find farmers that want to take part in the adventure. It’ll be Lucien and Denise Roche from la Javie. For 37 years, these pioneers will welcome their hosts with care and kindness, thus creating a new link between cities and the countryside.

Two years later, a second gîte opens in Saint-Clément sur Durance in the Hautes-Alpes. The move is on, the example of La Javie will be followed in the whole country. In 1955, the National Federation of the Gîtes de France is born. Since then, rural tourism kept on developing.