Tourist information -
Lorient
Lorient, Brittany's fourth-largest city, lies on
an immense natural harbour protected from the ocean by the Île
de Groix and strategically located at the junction of the rivers
Scorff, Ter and Blavet. A functional, rather depressing port today,
it was once a key base for French and English colonialism, and was
founded in the mid-seventeenth century for trading operations by
the Compagnie des Indes, an equivalent of the Dutch and English
East India Companies. Apart from the name, little else remains to
suggest the plundered wealth that once arrived here. During the
last war, Lorient was a major target for the Allies; the Germans
held out until May 1945, by which time the city was almost completely
destroyed. The only substantial remains were the U-boat pens - subsequently
greatly expanded by the French for their nuclear submarines.
Across the estuary in Port-Louis is the Musée de la Compagnie
des Indes , a pretty dismal temple to imperialism (Jan-March, Oct
& Nov daily except Tues 2-6pm; April & May daily except
Tues 10am-6.30pm; June-Sept daily 10am-6.30pm; closed Dec; 30F/?4.57).
Time would be more enjoyably spent on a boat trip, either up the
estuary towards Hennebont or out to the Île de Groix . This
8km-long steep-sided rock is a somewhat smaller version of Belle-Île
, and holds some gorgeous beaches to encourage day-trippers.
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