Reseau Des Grands Sites De France

What Reseau Des Grands Sites De France does

Réseau des Grands Sites de France (RGSF) is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in November 2000 that networks the managers of France's most prestigious classified landscapes. It serves 53 member sites covering more than 470 communes across 35 departments and 12 regions, collectively welcoming over 40 million visitors annually. The association does not develop proprietary technology; its core offering is coordination, expertise dissemination, training, and advocacy delivered through annual encounters (Rencontres annuelles), working groups, publications, an Extranet, an international Francophone training pole, and an elected-officials resource portal. Its flagship product is the Grand Site de France label, a government-owned trademark registered at INPI in 2003 and enshrined in the Code de l'Environnement (Art. L 341-15-1) since 2010, awarded for 8 years by the Ministry of Ecology after advice from the Commission supérieure des sites, perspectives et paysages and RGSF itself.

RGSF earns income through three streams: membership fees (active members are Grand Site managers; associate members are territorial collectivities and individuals), institutional funding from the Ministry of Ecology and other government partners, and tax-deductible donations enabled by its association d'intérêt général status (since April 2011). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and no commercial products are sold. Revenue is reported as not publicly disclosed. The organization operates from offices in Paris (99 rue de Vaugirard) and Solutré-Pouilly (administrative headquarters) with a small core staff of approximately 7-8 people.

Governance is structured around a Bureau composed of elected officials from member sites, with Louis Villaret as Président and Soline Archambault as Directrice. The network's strategic direction is set by a 10-year project (2025-2035) unanimously approved by all members in February 2026. Partnerships span the Ministry of Ecology, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Caisse des Dépôts, ADEME, Atout France, ICOMOS France, and the Federation of Regional Natural Parks, among others. The association is a member of ICOMOS France's board and contributes to the Master 2 in cultural and natural heritage tourism at IREST (Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne).

Name

Reseau Des Grands Sites De France

Legal name

Réseau des Grands Sites de France

Website

https://grandsitedefrance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Réseau des Grands Sites de France is a French non-profit association founded in 2000 that networks 53 member sites managing exceptional classified landscapes across 470+ communes, coordinating the Grand Site de France label, training, and publications for public-sector heritage site managers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage and Protected Landscape Management

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Forestry, Land Use & REDD+ Programs (BPADALAF)

Keywords

• Heritage landscape management
• Sustainable tourism development
• Classified site coordination
• Protected area training
• Cultural landscape preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Members pay annual fees to belong to the network. Active members include site managers of labeled and project Grand Sites, while associate members include territorial collectivities and individual persons.
2. Institutional funding and subsidies: The network receives operational budget contributions from the Ministry of Ecology and other government bodies. Partners provide support for specific projects and actions.
3. Donations and sponsorship: Recognized as an association of general interest since April 2011, eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. Corporate donations are deductible up to 60% of amounts paid and 5% of turnover; individual donations qualify for 66% income tax reduction.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Réseau des Grands Sites de France (RGSF) is a French non-profit association that coordinates a national network of 53 member sites managing exceptional protected landscapes. It provides peer learning, training, publications, and advocacy services around the government-owned 'Grand Site de France' label, and operates an international Francophone training pole for heritage site managers.

Product overview

The Réseau des Grands Sites de France is an association (loi 1901) created in 2000 that networks exceptional protected French landscapes. Rather than a single unified product, it offers a portfolio of services centered around the 'Grand Site de France' label (a national certification), annual conferences (Rencontres), international training programs, a members-only Extranet, elected officials resources, and publications. The network connects 53 member sites managing heritage landscapes, facilitates knowledge exchange, and promotes sustainable tourism and landscape preservation across France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Label Grand Site de France
• Rencontres annuelles (Annual Meetings)
• Formation internationale (International Training)
• Extranet
• Publications (Collection, Guides, Actes)
• Espace élus (Elected Officials Space)
• Escapade nature sans voiture

Quantifiable outcome

• 53 member sites managing exceptional French landscapes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministère de la Transition écologique et de la Cohésion des territoirescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2000The Ministry of Ecology is responsible for classified sites and the Grand Site policy. It hosted the founding meeting in November 2000 and contributes to the network's operating budget while supporting network actions. The label Grand Site de France is attributed by this Ministry.
• Groupe Caisse des Dépôts (Banque des Territoires)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partner of territorial collectivities, the group accompanies local actors in development projects. Provides loans on savings funds, equity investment, and technical, legal, and financial engineering advice. Collaborates with RGSF since 2004 on landscape protection.
• Ministère de l'Economie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique - DGEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance, DGE develops public policies for industry, digital economy, tourism, and services. DGE supports RGSF on actions related to sustainable tourism and territorial entrepreneurship.
• Atout FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrance's tourism development agency, mission to strengthen competitiveness and attractiveness of the France destination. Supports RGSF on mastering and strengthening digital communication. RGSF is winner of the 2023 'Destinations digitales' call for projects.
• Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires EtrangèrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the international Francophone pole of heritage site management animated by RGSF.
• Ministère de la CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the international Francophone pole of heritage site management animated by RGSF.
• Conseil régional de Bourgogne-Franche-ComtéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council supports the international Francophone pole of heritage site management.
• Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic administrative establishment under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. Conserves, maintains, manages, and opens 100 state-owned historical monuments to visitors. Partnership aims to enrich mutual skills in site and monument management.
• Conservatoire du littoralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic administrative establishment tasked with acquiring coastal land for protection and opening to the public. Works with RGSF on coastal site management.
• ICOMOS FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Council on Monuments and Sites - French chapter. RGSF is a member of ICOMOS France's Board and participates in the World Heritage working group. Jointly organized 2009 international symposium on 'Local values, universal values: for whom, for what is a site great?'
• Office français de la biodiversité (OFB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic establishment dedicated to biodiversity protection and restoration in metropolitan France and overseas territories. RGSF was a member of the predecessor GIP ATEN.
• Territoires Conseils (Caisse des Dépôts)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService of Caisse des Dépôts collaborating with RGSF since 2004 on landscape protection. Provides legal support and manages the 'Experience base' documenting Grand Site experiences.
• Office National des Forêts (ONF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2007 on forest management issues in Grand Sites. RGSF sits on the national orientation committee of the Forêt d'Exception label. Several Grand Sites contain state forests managed by ONF.
• Fédération des Parcs Naturels RégionauxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned 2008 convention to promote exchanges and joint reflections on tourism and planning themes.
• Association des Biens Français du Patrimoine Mondial (ABFPM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership convention signed January 2015 to develop actions in France and internationally.
• Institut de recherche et d'études supérieures du tourisme (IREST)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. RGSF contributes annually to Master 2 'Site management and cultural/natural heritage tourism valorization'. Hosts regular trainees from this program.
• Acteurs du Tourisme Durable (ATD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench representative of sustainable tourism actors. RGSF is a member of ATD, working to advance sustainable tourism development.
• ADEMEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency for ecological transition. Supports RGSF on Landscape and Energy Transition projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Office français de la biodiversité (OFB): National public establishment dedicated to biodiversity protection across metropolitan France and overseas territories. RGSF was previously a member of its predecessor GIP ATEN, and the two collaborate on biodiversity-related programs — OFB operates at a much larger mandate scale.
• Atout France: France's national tourism development agency. Atout France supports RGSF on digital communication and recognized it as winner of the 2023 'Destinations digitales' call — both interface with the Ministry of Economy on sustainable tourism strategy.

Direct peers

• Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN): Public establishment under the Ministry of Culture that manages 100 state-owned historical monuments. RGSF has a formal partnership with CMN to share skills in site and monument management — both coordinate heritage-site management with central government.
• Conservatoire du littoral: Public establishment that acquires coastal land for protection and public access. It is a formal partner of RGSF and works with the network on coastal Grand Sites — both serve as state-aligned stewardship bodies for protected French landscapes.
• ICOMOS France: French chapter of the International Council on Monuments and Sites; a membership-based NGO that provides advisory input to the State on heritage protection. RGSF sits on its board and co-organizes events, and both organizations serve expert advisory roles to French ministries on landscape and heritage policy.
• Fédération des Parcs Naturels Régionaux: Federation representing France's Regional Nature Parks, with a parallel mandate to manage protected landscapes sustainably. RGSF and the Federation signed a 2008 convention on joint reflection in tourism and planning — they address overlapping member constituencies and themes.
• Association des Biens Français du Patrimoine Mondial (ABFPM): Association of French UNESCO World Heritage sites, with which RGSF has a 2015 partnership convention. Both are membership associations of protected French sites that share expertise, advocate nationally, and interface with French ministries.

Regional players

• EUROPARC Federation: European network of protected areas, comparable to RGSF but operating pan-European rather than France-only. Both are membership associations of protected-area managers focused on sustainable landscape management, knowledge exchange, and policy advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCo4ZFXcYHVgVo2a-r3q3vEg
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/R%C3%A9seau-des-Grands-Sites-de-France/256082564446821
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/r-seau-des-grands-sites-de-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/reseaugrandssitesdefrance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reseau Des Grands Sites De France