French gîtes: definition and ratings

A gîte is, first of all, a house you’re lent for a few days: a furnished, self-contained holiday home, rented by the week or the weekend, where you live as if at home. Unlike a chambre d’hôtes (bed and breakfast), you don’t share the owners’ daily life: you hold the keys, and the place is yours.

The legal framework

A gîte falls under the seasonal letting of furnished tourist accommodation, which in France must be declared to the local town hall. The word “gîte” is not protected in itself, but the Gîtes de France label covers a large share of the supply.

The Gîtes de France rating (épis)

The label rates accommodation from 1 to 5 épis, based on comfort, facilities and setting:

• 1 to 2 épis: simple, functional comfort
• 3 épis: good comfort, well-kept facilities
• 4 to 5 épis: high comfort, refined services and setting

The rating is awarded after an inspection visit and reviewed regularly.

The case of large gîtes

Large-capacity gîtes (sometimes called “group gîtes”) welcome fifteen to more than thirty people, and demand particular attention to safety, shared spaces and facilities.

Sources

• Gîtes de France — label and rating overview
• French tourism code — furnished tourist accommodation