Inspiration
What is a gite?
Gites/gîte/gites: what are they? Here is the ultimate explanation of this concept.
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Press the down arrow key to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.
Every now and then we get asked: Gites, where does that come from? What exactly is it? Many people who visit France regularly often have an idea, but here is the ultimate explanation, so that it is clear once and for all.
What is a gite?
A gîte (pronounced ‘zjiet’) is the French term for a holiday home. These are furnished properties available for short-term rental, from a few days to a few weeks.
So it's a place for tourists to stay, but what does a gîte look like? Gîtes come in all shapes and sizes, from renovated barns to luxury villas with infinity pools. Many gîtes are converted farms or workers' cottages.
Types of Gites
There are several types of gîtes. For example, there is the gîtes d'etape, which is a hostel for hikers and cyclists.
There is also the gîte rural, a holiday home in the countryside that is available for rent, often an outbuilding.
What is a Chambre d'hôtes?
A Chambre d'hôtes is the French equivalent of a bed & breakfast. You often stay in the host's home, but it can also be in a separate building. Breakfast is included in your stay. The personal attention and availability of the host is central here.
What is a Table d'hôtes?
A Table d'hôtes has many similarities with a Chambres d'hôtes, but goes one step further. Here, the host provides dinner, preferably with many regional products and according to traditional recipes.
Gîte/Gite?
Originally, the term ‘gîte’ was used. However, nowadays the term ‘gite’, without the accent on the ‘i’, is also very common, partly because it is much easier to type. We at Gites (the rental platform) mostly use this second variant.
What is Gites.com?
And finally, of course, ourselves. Gites, Gites.com, Gites.nl. It's not hard to guess where we got the inspiration for the name. We have been using the name Gites for over 20 years and recently switched from the domain Gites.nl to Gites.com. But don't worry, if you type gites.nl into Google, you'll still end up here!
We could go on and on about gites, but words only go so far. Isn't it much better to see what a gite looks like with your own eyes? You can! We have 4,000 here to help you get an idea!