Definition: bed and breakfast

Article 13 of the law on inns defines different categories of establishments: rural guesthouses, table d'hôte, wine cellars, alpine chalets: "The table d'hôte licence allows food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to be served to up to twenty guests on a farm or vineyard. " From there, a great deal of latitude is left to the interpretation of the cantons, which are more or less strict about the meaning to be given to the term and the constraints to be imposed...
Originally, "people would sit down to eat in these early inns in the 18th century, while changing horses, taking a little rest, in a room for the more fortunate, in the stable for the others," explains Jura chef Georges Wenger. We are a long way from the days of stagecoaches, and yet the table d'hôte is making a rapid comeback in our region. First in France and Austria, driven by the agritourism wave – in some cases, with a luxury of refinement that has seen jacuzzis spring up even in disused stables – and in Switzerland, for the past twenty years or so, with varying degrees of success and ambition. The advent of contemporary table d'hôte coincides with the "adventure on the straw", a Jura initiative offering basic, rustic accommodation to city dwellers longing for the countryside. "Encouraged to retrain in order to survive, many farmers have expanded their offerings by providing meals for their guests. Above all, they realised that with a modest investment, they could secure some additional income," notes Nicole Houriet, secretary general of the Rural Tourism Association.

The association for the development and promotion of rural tourism in Switzerland, tourisme-rural.ch, brings together people who offer accommodation, catering and/or leisure activities in rural areas. Its aim is to develop and promote opportunities for rural tourism in Switzerland. The association tourisme-rural.ch is the successor to the Centre romand de compétences du tourisme rural (Romandy Centre of Excellence for Rural Tourism), which received financial support from the Swiss Confederation (Régio Plus).
Tables d'hôte now reflect incredible creativity and diversity: "Every farm, every individual, every place invents and shapes its own offering," notes Michèle Zufferey of Agridea, the Swiss Association for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas. Some have converted their living rooms, invested in the purchase of a Mongolian yurt, or transformed a barn, an old forge, a wine press or a shed, sometimes combining several activities, from equestrian shows to wine tastings.
But farmers are not the only ones trying their hand at this adventure. It is the result of multiple career changes: mothers wanting to "create something of their own", cooking enthusiasts or knowledgeable amateurs encouraged by their loved ones to take the plunge, city dwellers settling in renovated farms, passionate DIYers, and curious and clever people of all kinds.

What is a rural gîte? A rural gîte can be anything you want it to be:
A house just for you...
The ideal holiday home for getting together with family or friends, whatever the season. The cottage is an independent rental, available by the week (usually from Saturday to Saturday), by the weekend or for short stays at certain times of the year.
Each cottage is comfortably equipped so you can enjoy the charm of a house with living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen.

• The surroundings, whether in the countryside, by the sea or in the mountains, are of high quality, with an emphasis on outdoor spaces, tranquillity and calm.
• The welcome is friendly and based on availability, conviviality, exchanges that encourage discovery, and generosity that promotes good relations between owners and holidaymakers.
• The architecture of our holiday homes is as varied as the pleasures you will discover there: wherever you stay, all the attractions of nature and each region will be within your reach.

There is a wide range of gîtes, from 2 to more than 10 people. Some owners have several adjoining gîtes that can accommodate several families wishing to stay in the same place.

It is difficult to quantify the reality of table d'hôte dining in Switzerland: tourist authorities list more than two hundred farms offering meals; however, many individuals, perhaps the majority, operate on the fringes of legality, discouraged by administrative obstacles.

Location and detailed, illustrated rental offers on our example website: