stopover • multi-night stay • solo travellers • groups
A home
from home
Things
to do
We’re
coming!
News
We are open since Easter ! And the flowers appear in the Combeau valley...
Don’t forget to book!
For the next few months we're already fully booked:
May: 4 to 6, 8 to 15, 27, 28 and 31
June: 1 to 3, 8 and 9, 16 to 22 and 24 to 27
September: 20 to 23
We look forward to welcoming you.
Pierre-Henry & Uta
NE PAS SUPPRIMER
NE PAS SUPPRIMER
Uta & Pierre-Henry
A home
from home
Groups, friends, families, solo travellers…
All are welcome at the “Gîte de Bénevise” rest house for:
A stopover, a restful night along your route
A multi-night stay
A club event, training course or session, family get-together, meeting, birthday, seminar, etc.
A gourmet break
History
We want the Gîte de Bénevise to remain a genuine, essential guest and rest house for lovers (whether amateur or professional) of both the countryside and outdoor activities.
Our rest and guest house has space for groups and is perched at an altitude of 1,000m in the pristine hamlet of Bénevise, surrounded by walnut trees and lavender, just below the Col de Menée, 12km from Châtillon en Diois on the way to Grenoble.
In 1994 the magnificent building dating from 1841 was converted into a rest house at the behest of the former municipality of Treschenu-Creyers and the caver Dominique Benard and his wife Denise.
The building
Today, the Bénevise rest house is divided into 3 flats. Every flat has 2 dormitories with 3 to 4 beds and there are 20 spaces overall.
In every flat, there’s a shower room, WC, corner kitchen, and a relaxing common area.
You can also enjoy the beautiful patio in front of the house plus more secluded spots out the back.
Our breakfasts, packed meals, and evening dinners are made with plenty of fresh, regional produce and above all with amour. Our cooking is inspired by our influences, the seasons, and memorable travels and flavours.
Depending on availability, a vaulted room can be rented in the daytime (exhibitions, courses, meetings, activities).
Things to do
Here’s a selection of activities to do in and around Bénevise If you know of any other heritage sites worth checking out or rocks to climb, or if you’ve recorded or tested a great hiking trail, mountain, gravel, or road bike route heading through Bénevise, please let us know.
HIKING
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• Bénevise - Tussac
15km 680m elevation gain• Bénevise - Le Rancou via Bergeries de Tussac and Pas des Ampes
13km 900m elevation gain• Jardins du Roi via Archiane
19km 1,200m elevation gain• Bénevise - Châtillon en Diois
11km 380m elevation gain 820m elevation loss• GR93 from Peyrus to Lus-la-Croix-Haute
92km 4,675m elevation gain
HERITAGE SITES & EVENTS
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Châtillon en Diois (12km from Bénevise)
• One of the “most beautiful villages in France”, and also the setting for the film “Knock”.
• Châtillon-en-Diois is surrounded by one of France’s highest-altitude vineyards.
• There are various trails in and around the village.
• Market: every Friday
• Various shops: minimarket, bakery, artists and artisans, etc.
• A (municipal) swimming pool open in the summer.
• Remarkable heritage sites to explore.
Die (35km from Bénevise)
• Market: Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Several sports shops, organic shop (La Carline), farm shop (Le Silo), supermarkets, service station, cinema.
• La Clairette de Die, and the MuséObulles at the Cave de Jaillance.
• The tourist office and of course heritage sites (La Porte Saint-Marcel, Die ramparts, etc.)
• Find out about the many activities and festivities over the summer season!
A few unmissable events (non-exhaustive list - according to taste)
• European Heritage Days
CLIMBING
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• Aiguilles de Bénevise
Archaeognatha SurprisaeLa Cheminée Libérée (5b+)
• Cirque d’Archiane
Le Rocher d'Archiane is an emblematic cliff, accessible all year round.
But beware: Due to nesting birds of prey (vultures like the bearded vulture), climbing is regulated according to the season.• Le Vallon de Baïn (Châtillon-en-Diois)Small rocky ridge for all the family. 25 routes (from 3c to 7a - French system).
• Gorges du Gâts
Un jour de pluie ? Vous pourrez alors profiter de l’incroyable rocher sculpté des Gâts.
FLORA & FAUNA
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Botanical enthusiasts will find not only a multitude of orchids, but also bell flowers, globeflowers, gentians, wild tulips, daffodils, narcissi, and wild pansies. In short, a fascinating world of flowers. You might even catch a glimpse of ibexes, chamois, marmots, vultures, etc.
CYCLING
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MTB:
Waymarked MTB trails 12 and 24 go past the house, but we’ve found other gems, too:
• Les Pépites d'Archiane in Le Diois
33km 1,500m elevation gain• Crête de Grande Leirie
26km 1,050m elevation gain• Cirque d’Archiane - Châtillon en Diois
31km 1,250m elevation gain• Die - Benevise
36km 1,800m elevation gainRoad byke:
Up and down, up and down…
• Crest - Benevise (152km 1,444m elevation gain)
• There’s plenty of choice!
Gravel :
A few trails for you…
• Châtillon en Diois - Menée - Gâts
103km• A few loops around Châtillon en Diois
VIA FERRATA
KAYAK
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• Archiane :
Navigable after the snow’s melted or following heavy rain, so more in April, May, or the autumn.
Upper Archiane (Archiane - Menée) 4km graded III (4), E1
and Lower Archiane (Menée - Châtillon en Diois) 3km graded II (3), E2• Drôme
Pretty mountain river for the first 30 kilometres free of any dams or drops. Grade-II river with grade-III sections when the water level is high. Favourable period from March to June. In summer, the river is calmer.
CANYONING & CAVING
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Canyoning:
• Randonnée Aquatique de la Comane (just down the road from Die)
• Le Ravin d'Ufert and plenty more
Caving:
We have a special soft spot for caving in memory of Dominque Benard, a major caver and the first owner of the Gîte de Bénevise.
• Grotte de Pellebit in Mensac is a beginners’ cave a 15-minute drive from Bénevise
More information on caving in the Vercors.
We’re coming!
You can request a booking by letter, telephone, e-mail or simply using the form below.
Please book at least 48 hours in advance. If you have any specific requests, please text or call us. We speak French, German, and English.
Rates
From Easter to All Saints • half-board, in € and per person
Half-board includes bed, evening meal, and breakfast.
1 to 2 nights
Adult: €56
•••••
> 3 nights
Adult: €55
Young people (from 3 to 16 years old): €46
Babies and children less than 3 years old: Free
Picnic (to take away, booking required): €10
•••••
Room hire
L-shaped vaulted room with wood stove for exhibitions, meetings, or small groups of 6 to 12 people, depending on activities: Contact us
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• These rates do not include tourist tax (from 18 years old).
• Every bed has a mattress protector, fitted sheet, and pillow with cover. A blanket is available for every bed.
• Don’t forget your bag sheet (also known as a liner or meat bag) or sleeping bag. In-house bag sheet hire: €3.
• For picnics, please bring your own lunch box (capacity approx. 380 to 500ml and hermetic seal appreciated;-)). In 2024, we can still lend you anything you’re missing.
• Remember to let us know at least 48 hours before your arrival about any special dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free) or allergies.
• Animals are not allowed in the house (subject to exceptions, on request).
• We have one highchair and one folding bed (but not two ;-))
• Accepted means of payment: cheque and cash.
• Deposit: a 30% deposit is payable when booking to confirm your stay (by transfer or cheque).
• Winter period (after All Saints until Easter): According to availability, opening for groups of at least 8 people. Heating surcharge: €3 per person and per night.
Our opening hours
Dormitory opening hours
from 4 p.m.
(subject to exceptions, e.g.: heavy rain, we’re out hiking or stuck in traffic after shopping, etc.)
•••••
Evening meal
7 p.m.
•••••
Breakfast
between 7.30 and 8.30 a.m.
(earlier breakfasts possible)
•••••
Departure time
before 9.30 a.m.
Contact
Booking request
How to find us
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Via hiking trails, such as the GR 93 and GR 965.
MTB routes 12 and 24 also go past the front of the house.
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From Grenoble via the D7 and D120 (via Chiciliane and the Col de Menée), then take the D515 (towards Vallon de Combeau).
From the Rhône valley via the D93 (Crest, Die), then the D539 (to Châtillon en Diois) then the D120 and D515 (towards Vallon de Combeau).
From Sisteron via the D539 (to Châtillon en Diois) then the D120 and D515 (towards Vallon de Combeau).
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By train:
• TER Line 64 - Valence-Gap - stops at Die and Luc en Diois stations.
• TER Line 63 - Grenoble-Gap - stops at Lus-la-Croix-Haute station.
Further information: TER/SNCF.
Find out about DRT (Demand-Responsive Transport), that will take you - under certain conditions and in return for a small financial contribution - to our house or from Bénevise to the nearest SNCF station.
By bus:
• Line 28 (axe Valence-Gap) stops at Die.
• Line 29 (Die - Beaurières) stops at Châtillon-en-Diois.