This contribution intends to discuss the use of the concept of rural gentrification in the case of the « rural rebirth » of French rural areas. Beyond the revival of rural landscapes, are there eviction processes in rural areas ? Thanks to statistical analysis and field interviews, it will be suggested that real eviction processes are seldom encountered in French rural areas ; however a selective process among newcomers, based on land prices and housing regulations can be indirectly considered as a critical validation of the concept of gentrification.