“The feeling of being at home, in a cocoon”: a gîte in Aube receives the 2025 favorite award from the Gîtes de France network

It had been 25 years since the Aube gîtes had received an award. It is therefore a source of immense pride for the owners of Clos Sainte-Victoire, Laure and Rémi, who received the prize for the most beautiful rural gîte 2025 on May 16, 2025, awarded by the Gîtes de France network . “The gîte is called Clos Sainte-Victoire because Victoire is our daughter. And Rémi, my partner, had hotels in Aix-en-Provence in his previous life, hence the Sainte-Victoire mountain . This prize is a real recognition, because it represents hours and hours of work, but above all a real bet on the Aube,” confides Laure.

Built with passion, Clos Sainte-Victoire is much more than just a tourist accommodation: it's a living space designed down to the smallest detail to offer warmth, comfort, and authenticity. "We imagined the cottage we would have loved to rent with our family," explains Laure, mother of a blended family of seven children and nine grandchildren.

This 290 m² gîte, rated 5 ears of corn , combines old-world charm with high-end amenities: heated swimming pool, spa, gym, games room, children's facilities, à la carte services (home chef, sports coach, nanny, etc.). A rare offering in the region, a few kilometers from the lakes of the Forêt d'Orient and the Champagne cellars.

“When they arrive, people often say to us: You are better equipped than we are . “What they like is to feel like they are at home, in a cocoon,” smiles Laure . We kept as many elements of the house as possible: the brick walls, large beams... It's quite classic but, at the same time, we added all the modern comforts, with reversible air conditioning or ceiling blades for those who are resistant to air conditioning. We kept the tiles which are magnificent, but with ultra-modern comfort and a very Aube style.

The couple continues to improve the cottage regularly, including the recent addition of a football pitch and a semi-open games room with a ping-pong table, darts, pinball machine, and pool table. An ideal room for those rainy days.

But what undoubtedly won over the Gîtes de France jury, beyond the amenities, was the soul of the place. "Every object has a story," says Laure. "A painting by a local artist, a second-hand statue, a map of Champagne... We want it to tell the story of Aube. I placed plaques under certain objects to explain their provenance..."

And this is perhaps the gîte's greatest success: offering a warm immersion in a region that is too undervalued. " Aube isn't just about factory outlets. It's a land of producers, a crazy architectural heritage, and a real sweetness of life," she says.

Completely renovated by its owners without any outside financial assistance, the house also demonstrates a strong local commitment. "We only worked with companies from the Aube region. This was essential for us," emphasizes the owner.

Alongside Clos Sainte-Victoire, the other winners of the 2025 Gîtes de France Favorite Awards are La Maison Montaut (Landes), for the most beautiful guest house, and Les Pommiers (Manche), for the Sustainable Development award. The awards recognize passion, authenticity, and a sense of hospitality.