Residents of Arveyres, a village of about 2,000 people in Gironde, are standing by their community despite flooding in February 2026. The Dordogne rose to levels not seen this century, flooding fields and local roads, cutting the departmental road 2089—the main route to Libourne—and leaving dozens of people confined to their homes. Arveyres was declared a natural disaster area.
The episode formed part of an unusually prolonged period of flood alerts: 42 consecutive days of vigilance across 88 departments. In Arveyres, Nadine Licoine gathered residents’ photographs for a village heritage event. The collection includes images of streets and cars partly submerged during the February floods.
The flooding renewed a question for residents: should they stay? Some argue that the danger is known, predictable and manageable, and that the village’s quality of life makes it worth remaining. The available account also notes that the community’s way of life continues to attract young people, though it provides no further details about their experiences or plans.
Sources: Le Monde.