Our Fifth Visit to the Arc en Ciel

There are some places you visit once and enjoy, and then there are places that somehow become part of your family story. For us, Arc En Ciel Gîtes in the Dordogne is very much the latter.

Our recent visit in 2026 was our fifth stay at Arc En Ciel, having first discovered the gîtes back in 2012, just after we got married. We returned in 2014 when I was five months pregnant, and then again in 2015 with our eight-month-old baby and my sister. Our fourth visit was in 2019, this time with our four-year-old. And now, seven years later, we decided it was time to go back – with our now 11-year-old son, who this time brought a friend along for the adventure.

We stayed in Lavender Gîte, which has always been our favourite. The gîtes are spacious, charming and wonderfully rustic, with everything you need for a comfortable stay, but it’s really the setting that keeps bringing us back. Arc En Ciel is incredibly peaceful. In fact, you can literally hear… nothing! No traffic, no planes, no background noise – just the occasional birdsong and the gentle sounds of the countryside. It is the sort of place where you quickly find yourself slowing down.

Our mornings started quietly, often with a visit from the resident chickens who seemed to know exactly when breakfast was being served! After a lazy start, we headed out to explore some of the surrounding Dordogne. We visited nearby towns including Brantôme and Montignac, enjoying the local markets, wandering through the streets and getting out on the water for some kayaking.

The afternoons were all about returning to Arc En Ciel and settling by the pool. With the boys happily entertaining themselves, we could properly switch off and enjoy the sunshine. Evenings were equally relaxed – usually preparing simple salads and getting the barbecue going before settling down for dinner and enjoying another peaceful evening under the stars.

What we love most about Arc En Ciel is that it hasn’t lost its charm. It isn’t about rushing around trying to see and do everything; it’s about having the space and freedom to spend your days exactly as you want. There are beautiful towns, markets, rivers and plenty to explore nearby, but equally, you can spend an entire afternoon by the pool with a good book and feel like you’ve had the perfect day.

Returning after so many years, and seeing our son now enjoying the place in a completely different way, made this visit particularly special. We have so many memories here – from our first stay as newlyweds to holidays with a tiny baby, and now watching our 11-year-old and his friend disappear off together for the day.

Five visits later, Arc En Ciel remains one of those rare places that feels a little bit like coming home. If you’re looking for a peaceful, relaxing family escape in the Dordogne, with charming rustic gîtes, plenty to explore nearby and, most importantly, some proper peace and quiet, we really can’t recommend it enough.

Written by the lovely Wheeler Family

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