What to do in Lorient, Morbihan?
Where is Lorient?
Lorient is located in northern Morbihan, just a stone’s throw from Finistère, 60 km west of Vannes and 70 km southeast of Quimper. Built at the mouths of the Scorff and Blavet rivers, Lorient is famous for its strategically located harbor.
Elle a pour communes limitrophes Lanester et Locmiquélic à l’est, Port-Louis et Larmor-Plage au sud, Ploemeur et Quéven à l’ouest. Le centre est accessible en moins de 20 minutes depuis le camping 4 étoiles Lorient.
Visit Lorient
Lorient’s emblematic site, the submarine base is a good start to discover the city’s heritage: the largest fortress of the 20ᵉ century, it is the subject of fascinating guided tours.
You can also visit the Flore submarine and its associated exhibition space. The submarine museum houses a simulator built during the Second World War to train submariners.
On the harbor side, a little further north, the Cité de la voile Éric Tabarly is another highlight in your discovery of Lorient: the modern, interactive site is entirely dedicated to the world of sailing and ocean racing.
Take a stroll along the quays to reach the town center: a pleasant place to stroll with its low-rise buildings and wide pedestrian streets, it’s a lively place for shoppers and terrace-goers alike.
Finally, on the other side of the Blavet, don’t miss the Port-Louis citadel and the Compagnie des Indes museum. Nearby, children will love the citadel’s mini-golf course! Round off your visit with the Grande poudrière and the Tour Saint-François, opposite the port of Gâvres.
Lorient by the sea
At the heart of one of the most beautiful harbors on the Atlantic coast, Lorient is also a seaside resort offering a multitude of water sports and leisure activities.
From the citadel of Port-Louis to the seafront of Larmor-Plage, not forgetting the coastal paths and heavenly beaches of the island of Groix, Lorient’s coastline offers superb landscapes with contrasting atmospheres.
Lorient’s harbor is home to more than ten ports with diverse vocations, from the oldest, where the ships of the Compagnie des Indes docked, to the most recent, a hub for ocean racing.
Lorient is a commercial, fishing, passenger, yachting and military port, offering a full range of maritime services.
The most beautiful beaches are just a few minutes from the town center: Port-Louis at the foot of the citadel, Larmor facing the island of Groix, and Gâvres, with its mix of sandy and pebble beaches and charming coves.
A paradise for water sports enthusiasts, Lorient boasts a nautical center on the Eric Tabarly quay, the Kerguelen nautical center and the Keroman submarine base sailing school.
A chance to try out dinghies, catamarans, windsurfing, sea rowing and paddleboarding.
Cruises from Lorient
Numerous excursions and cruises are available from the port of Lorient. To suit all tastes and budgets, you can take a guided tour of the harbor, ports and submarine bases, or simply take a shuttle to the island of Groix.
Off Lorient’s harbor, this emblematic island is the subject of cruises with or without a stopover during the season. Direct connections are available from Lomener.
Companies also offer excursions on the Blavet and Laïta rivers, departing from Lorient, Port-Louis and Guidel.
Boat trip departures are subject to tide times. They also vary according to the season.
Departing from the port of Lorient or Port-Louis, you can opt for unforgettable cruises on old rigs, such as the Bro Warok, or for themed cruises aroundLorient’s military arsenal, its historic commercial port, or the shipwrecks hidden in its harbor.
Walks around Lorient
The Lorient region is criss-crossed by over 300 km of marked hiking trails.
They include the mythical tour of the island of Groix, the tour of the harbor by bike (approx. 30 km), as well as the famous GR34, or sentier des douaniers, which runs along the Breton coast and crosses the Lorient region from Guidel to the ria d’Etel. Kilometers of “voies vertes” (greenways) are also available for gentle leisure activities such as walking, cycling, horse-riding and rollerblading.
Among the most beautiful are the coastal route between Guidel-Plage and Kerroc’h, the route between Quéven and Pont Scorff, and the Kaolins route from Lorient to Plœmeur.
