A gite (a small furnished holiday house in France, typically in a rural setting) is a home-from-home that you can rent for your holiday. Most of them are fully equipped with all the essentials of modern day living and many are located in the most beautiful areas of France.
Gites in France are usually managed by the owner, and for the property to qualify as a gite the landlord should preferably live close by so that they can offer any assistance if necessary. Most gites are on the owner’s land and are within reach of their home. A gite is often a converted outbuilding or a cottage originally occupied by a farmworker.
Initially gites in France were both cheap and basic, having only the essential facilities required for living. However as time has gone on more and more gites in France have been equipped with modern facilities such as televisions, DVD players and broadband internet provision. Nowadays the definition of a gite has broadened somewhat and can refer to nearly any form of accommodation from a converted outbuilding, to a luxury apartment or flat. If the landlord lives close by, then essentially the property could be classified as a gite.
Gites are very popular throughout France as they are often a cheap (depends on standard) and easy means of going on holiday. The local authorities in France also encourage them as gites attract tourists and money into the quieter rural areas.
The gites in France are certainly worth considering for accommodation if you are planning a holiday in one of the beautiful areas of that country.