Definition
A "Gem" is a place in France that stands out for its exceptional character, whether through its natural beauty, cultural, historical, or industrial heritage.
These locations offer visitors an unforgettable experience, whether it's discovering breathtaking landscapes, learning about the history behind a monument, or experiencing the uniqueness of a local craft.
Gems highlight the identity and richness of a region, reflecting its traditions, history, or landscapes. They encourage those who visit to share their experience and immerse themselves in the authenticity of the place, whether it's a major tourist site or a more hidden gem.
Let's go deeper
A "Gem of France" is an exceptional place that stands out due to its unique features, whether they are natural, cultural, historical, or even industrial.
The qualifications for a location to be considered a Gem depend on a combination of criteria involving beauty, authenticity, and emotional or intellectual impact.
Selection criteria:
Exceptional locations:
Unique character: A place must stand out for its singularity. This could be its rare natural beauty (e.g., Calanques of Marseille), an iconic architectural work (e.g., the Eiffel Tower), rich historical heritage (e.g., Mont-Saint-Michel), or industrial innovation (e.g., Mines of Bruoux).
Authenticity: The place should reflect the cultural or historical essence of a French region. These are locations that have preserved their original character or testify to the region's history, traditions, or innovations.
Enriching experience:
Emotion and discovery: A Gem should evoke strong emotions or a sense of discovery. Whether it's awe at a stunning panorama, admiration for a monument steeped in history, or curiosity about an old industrial site, the place must offer a memorable experience for its visitors.
Regional enhancement:
Highlighting: Ideally, a Gem contributes to the promotion of the region and its people. Whether by showcasing local traditions, crafts, or history, it plays a part in the local identity.
Tourism potential: A listed Gem must obviously hold interest for its visitors. This includes major tourist sites as well as lesser-known spots that deserve to be (re)discovered. Our app also aims to promote the protection of these spaces, and even help local communities better manage their tourism flows.
Inspiration:
Visual and aesthetic inspiration: The place must offer significant aesthetic value, whether through its natural setting, architectural design, or overall ambiance. It's a place that inspires people to share their experience, especially on social media or through reviews in the app.
Folklore: A story, legend, or anecdote associated with the place enhances visitors' interest. This could be the story of a significant event or a captivating local legend surrounding the Gem featured in the app.
How do we know if a place meets all these criteria?
Before adding a Gem to our collaborative map, each one undergoes thorough examination.
Whether it's an on-site visit, personal knowledge, online research, or direct relationships with the organization managing the place, there are various ways we verify each location!
We list over 3,300 places on the app, each with independent management. As a result, some information may change or not be up to date in real time. If that happens, you can report any discrepancies you notice regarding a Gem—and we apologize in advance!
Do we visit ALL the sites listed on the Collaborative Map?
We have more than 3,300 Gems listed on the app. While our team is made up of enthusiasts, there are only five of us at present, and it would be challenging to visit all these places!
We are regularly in contact with exceptional places, some of which we might visit to create videos for our Instagram account, which requires being on-site.
In other cases, our team members may visit locations during their free time or for personal reasons. If one of us discovers a place, they share it with the rest of the team so we can add it to the Map!
Additionally, the goal of our app is to foster a community that collaborates to enrich the Gem directory for everyone. That's why you can also submit your recommendations to us.
If you know of places that meet these criteria but aren't yet listed on our Collaborative Map, here's an article explaining how to suggest them 👉 https://aide.lespepitesdefrance.fr/fr/articles/9382716-how-to-suggest-adding-a-pepite-to-the-collaborative-map