What is a Gîte?
Do you really know what a gite is? How do you pronounce it correctly? For all those who want to know more here’s my rough guide:
Gîte is pronounced “ zh-eet” and is a masculine noun….click to hear the correct pronunciation.
A gite is a French holiday home available for rent. Gites are usually fully-furnished and equipped for self-catering holidays in France. Many gite owners choose to handle their own rentals and some will advertise on the internet, or perhaps through the local tourist information office.
Technically speaking to be called a gite the owner must live close by in order to provide help, assistance and a warm welcome to guests. Gites can be old farm workers’ cottages or converted outbuildings or barns within the proximity of the owners’ principal residence. Our gite, La Vieille Source, was once a set of stables on the Vaucluse estate. Gite holiday accommodation used to be thought of as ‘basic’ in terms of facilities, however nowadays most gites are generally very well kept and a growing number will have excellent facilities such as a fitted kitchen, a modern bathroom, TV, and access to a swimming pool or other sporting activities.
Here at La Vieille Source you’ll find a spacious, clean and comfortable holiday home with a very well equipped kitchen. It has a full size gas oven and four burner hob, a dishwasher, microwave, toaster, and kettle. There’s plenty of entertainment with the English satellite television, DVD and VCR players, a radio and a music system and free internet Wi-Fi access. The heated swimming pool has wonderful views along the valley of the Gers towards the roman hilltop spa town of Lectoure, and a large sun terrace with comfortable loungers and parasols.
The term gite nowadays encompasses most forms of French cottages and sometimes even self catering holiday flats or apartments. A gîte originally meant quite simply a form of shelter. Gites today vary from being luxury holiday homes to very very basic apartments. You might find that some gites don’t provide bed linen as standard, so many gite holiday makers take their bedding along with them. However many gite owners do include linen at least as an option. Here at La Vieille Source you’ll find bed linen and towels are included free of charge.
Gites are encouraged by the local tourist board as they attract investment and tourism. All gite owners are required to ensure that their gites are safe and comply with the necessary rules, regulations and insurance requirements. La Vieille Source is all this and more. We chose to have an independent Child Accident Prevention Assessment to ensure this gite has been approved as one of the best child friendly gites. So if you’re thinking of bringing your tots to France, we’re sure you’ll discover a well thought out and comfortable home from home to give you a truly relaxing family holiday in France.
Here you can link to La Vieille Source’s Photo Album or find out more about our Baby & Toddler Pack