Lorient

Lorient is a city of 57,000 people (2017) on the south coast of Brittany.

Understand

Lorient is commonly referred to as la ville aux cinq ports ("the city of five ports"): military, fishing, commercial, passengers and yachting.

47.755278-3.3661111 Gare de Lorient. 4 hr by train west from Paris. 5 to 6 trains daily connect Paris to Lorient on the way to Quimper. Rennes, the main city in Brittany, is 1 hr 30 min from Lorient by train or by car.
The bus station is next to the railway station.
47.760556-3.442 Lorient South Brittany Airport (LRT ^IATA). Connections from Paris-Orly and Porto

Map of Lorient

Buses go all around Lorient and to nearby cities such as Ploemeur, Guidel, Lanester, and Hennebont.

Marina (Port de plaisance) – Near office de tourisme
Cité de la voile and Base Sous Marine – Submarine base built by the Germans during the Second World War.
Beaches – 5-15 km from Lorient city centre, some beaches are connected by buses: Guidel, Fort Bloqué, Lomener.
Port Louis – Another town across the "rade de lorient"; Fort and museum of the East India company.
Ile de Groix – A nice island 45 min off Lorient connected by ferry. Hike or bike around the island. The ferry costs €30 return (€35 weekend and summer). Departure 08:05, 11:00 13:45, and 18:45. Return from Groix: 06:50, 09:30, 12:30, and 17:30.

Football: FC Lorient were relegated in 2024 and now play soccer in Ligue 2, the second tier. Their home ground Stade de Moustoir (capacity 18,000) is in town centre.
47.7456-3.361281 Festival Interceltique de Lorient. A week in August. Street concerts, food and drinks, Celtic music and shows daily.
Hike the GR34 le sentier des douaniers coastal track along Brittany's coast.

Crêpes. Expect to pay €4 in a creperie for a "complete" filled with ham cheese and egg.

Kouing Amman (delicious sweet butter and caramel cake). Easily found during festival interceltique, otherwise check out bakeries.

Bars and pubs around Place Jules ferry - Quai des Indes. Expect around €5 for a pint of beer.

As of June 2022, Lorient has 5G from all French carriers.

Vannes – 40 min away by train or car on the way to Rennes and Paris.
Quimper – 40 min away by train or car, westwards: smaller pleasant city.
Quiberon and Carnac – Nice walks on the coast, about 30-45 min drive from Lorient.

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