The electric field gradient a t the Gd nucleus in gadolinium and rare earth trifluoride single crystals, LaF,, CeF,, PrF,, NdF,, SmF,, EuF,, and GdF, are measured by the method of integral perturbed angular correlation. The experimental data are compared with those of point charge model calculatione and with the results of other experiments such as Mossbauer spectroscopy. electron paramagnetic resonance, nuclear quadrupole resonance, and optical absorption. The results obtained for Gd in trifluorides of the light rare earth elements allow to conclude that the origin of the field gradient cannot be explained by the point charge model.