Some houses simply work for family holidays.
There needs to be enough room for everyone to spread out, somewhere for children to burn off energy, shade when the Dordogne sun gets a little enthusiastic — and preferably a swimming pool that becomes the centre of family life for the week.
A recent family staying at Le Petit Capelier described it simply as:
“Perfect rural getaway.”
Benj was travelling as a family, and what he noticed about the house was remarkably close to what we have always hoped Le Petit Capelier would be: somewhere families can relax rather than spend their holiday organising themselves.
A private pool made for family days
Our private 12m × 5m swimming pool inevitably becomes the centre of life at Le Petit Capelier during the summer.
It has a shallow end that works well for younger or less confident swimmers, while the deeper end gives stronger swimmers plenty of room.
Or, as Benj put it rather more entertainingly:
“Kid friendly pool with a shallow end for less confident swimmers and a deep end for dives, running bombs, and pushing your parents in.”
We can’t promise the parents will appreciate the last part.
Having your own pool also means there are no timetables or shared facilities. Come home from the market and jump straight in, spend an entire afternoon beside the water, or have an early swim before breakfast.
Space to roam — and somewhere to find the shade
One of the pleasures of staying at Le Petit Capelier is simply having space.
The house sits in mature gardens surrounded by countryside, so children aren’t confined to a terrace or small holiday-home garden. There’s room to play, explore and find their own corner.
Those mature trees matter in July and August too. As Benj noticed, there’s nearly always somewhere shady to retreat to during the hottest part of the afternoon.
Sometimes a successful family holiday isn’t about finding another attraction to visit. It’s about everyone being quite happy where they already are.
Eating outside without making a production of it
The kitchen is well equipped for proper family cooking, but in summer we tend to gravitate outside.
Our outdoor cooking area has a plancha and barbecue, making it easy to bring back whatever looks good at the local market and cook it outside.
Issigeac’s famous Sunday market is a favourite: bread, fruit and vegetables, cheeses, charcuterie and whatever else catches your eye can become lunch or supper back at the house.
Children can disappear back into the garden while the adults linger at the table — one of the quieter pleasures of having your own house rather than staying in a hotel.
Four lovely towns within easy reach
A family holiday shouldn’t involve spending half of every day in the car.
Le Petit Capelier is particularly well placed for exploring the villages and bastide towns around us.
Issigeac is less than ten minutes away, with medieval streets, cafés, restaurants, independent shops and its wonderful Sunday market.
Castillonnès is also less than ten minutes away and is useful for everyday shopping as well as its traditional market and attractive old centre.
A little further afield, Eymet has a beautiful bastide square, shops, cafés, restaurants and plenty happening throughout the summer.
And Villeréal, another lovely bastide town, makes an easy outing for its Saturday market, lunch beneath the arcades and a wander through the old streets.
Benj summed up the location rather neatly:
“Local towns are full of good cafés, restaurants and shops. Issigeac and Castillonès <10min drive. Villereal and Eymet <20mins.”
All four are close enough for a morning or afternoon out without turning the day into an expedition.
Family adventures when you do want to explore
There is plenty to do beyond the house.
Depending on the age of your children, a Dordogne holiday can include canoeing, swimming lakes, cycling, walking, castles, prehistoric sites and adventure parks.
Château de Bridoire is particularly popular with families, while the wider Dordogne offers everything from river trips and medieval villages to the prehistoric landscapes of the Vézère Valley.
Closer to home, some of our favourite family experiences are much simpler: a village fête, a marché gourmand, an evening concert, a brocante or an outdoor event that happens to coincide with your stay.
We keep our Local Events Near Issigeac & Bergerac calendar updated so guests can see what’s happening while they’re here.
And some days, go nowhere
It’s tempting to plan every day of a family holiday in the Dordogne.
Don’t.
Go to Issigeac market in the morning, come home for lunch, swim all afternoon and cook outside in the evening.
Let the children play. Find a book. Open something cold.
There will still be another château tomorrow.
What mattered to this family
Benj’s written review was lovely. What particularly pleased us, though, was the detail behind his five-star rating.
He gave Le Petit Capelier five stars for check-in, cleanliness, accuracy, communication, location and value.
For cleanliness, he specifically selected spotless furniture and linen, a squeaky-clean bathroom, a pristine kitchen and a clutter-free house.
For location: peaceful, private, beautiful surroundings and great restaurants.
For communication: always responsive, proactive, helpful instructions and local recommendations.
And for accuracy: the house looked like the photographs, matched its description and had the amenities and services promised.
These aren’t necessarily the glamorous parts of choosing a holiday house, but they’re often the things that make the difference between a beautiful property and a genuinely relaxing family holiday.
Benj finished his review:
“Hosts are on the ball and very welcoming in everything they do. Highly recommend, likely to return!”
We hope they do.
A family house in the Dordogne
Le Petit Capelier has three bedrooms and sleeps up to six guests, with its own private 12m × 5m swimming pool, mature gardens and plenty of outdoor space.
We’re in the countryside near Issigeac, with Castillonnès, Eymet, Villeréal, Bergerac and the vineyards of Monbazillac all within easy reach.
If you’re planning a family holiday in the Dordogne, explore our local guides and events, take a look around Le Petit Capelier, or check availability and book your stay directly with us.