Discover Lorient and the city of sailing

Route des Indes and the City of Sails: Lorient, a city of history



There are several ways to get to Lorient:

- Go directly to Lorient, to visit, for example, the traces of the history of the Second World War, such as the submarine base and the Eric Tabarly sailing centre

- Take the smaller roads and make one or more stops.

To get there directly: 44 km/36 mn

Turn right out of Dihan, direction Auray. Go as far as the traffic circle on the dual carriageway and follow signs for Lorient. Take the "center ville" exit to take a look around.

As Lorient's town center was totally razed during the Second World War, there's no historic center, half-timbered buildings or cobbled streets here. Lorient is a new town in Brittany, yet it has managed to rebuild its personality. The Bassin à flot district is a pleasant place to have a drink overlooking the port. Places we like in Lorient La Truie et sa portée ( 10 rue de la Patrie, 02.97.64.19.16, http://www.la-truie-et-sa-portee.fr/) for a drink in the center. Our favorite address for the "Bretonness" of the place, Tavarn ar roue Morvan or the King Morvan's tavern (1 pl. Polig Monjarret, 02 97 21 61 57 http://www.taverne-roi-morvan-lorient.com/): ideal place to eat Breton -kig ha farz - a kind of stew with a side of buckwheat paste, possibly listen to music and make friends with Breton people).

The famous Cité de la voile Eric Tabarly (02 97 655 656, Base de sous-marins de Keroman, http://www.citevoile-tabarly.com/) is an interesting place to visit for sailing novices and enthusiasts, couples and families (interactive and fun activities).

For lunch, our favorite spot is the Quai Ouest, on site, with its panoramic view of the harbor and pontoons. Immersion guaranteed and refined cuisine (02 97 65 42 58 http://www.quaiouest-lorient.com/)

We also love the port of Kernevel (take the Larmor direction from Lorient) for lunch of moules frites at Au tour du monde, the bar-resto in Kersauzon (02 97 65 54 18) or at the cosy Optimist (port de plaisance Kernevel, 02 97 84 61 82, www.loptimist.fr), then a drink at the Villa Margaret (port de Plaisance Kernevel, 02 97 33 67 19), with its unmistakable atmosphere of a bourgeois house, a haven for sailors.

Lorient is also home to the pier for the island of Groix (another of our favorite islands) and the venue for the Festival Interceltique(http://www.festival-interceltique.com/)

To discover the byways :

Dihan-petite mer de Gâvres: 19.8km/26mn

Petite mer de Gâvres-Port-Louis: 13km/21mn

Port-Louis-Lorient: 17.6km/32mn

Line 15 http://www.ctrl.fr/

Turn left out of Dihan, unusual accommodation in Morbihan.

Follow Erdeven then Belz (pass the Pont-Lorois) then Hennebont. At Plouhinec, follow signs for Gâvres. A rare feature of this 350-hectare inland sea is that it empties completely at low tide and fills up again at high tide, making it a paradise for anglers. The little sea of Gâvres has a special light and landscape, and a particularly well-preserved flora and fauna.

Exit onto the D781 and continue towards Hennebont/Lanester, then exit towards Port-Louis.

The entire southern Morbihan region, especially Port-Louis and Lorient, has been shaped by the history of the spice route and the East India Company. Discover the Musée de la compagnie des Indes (Citadelle de Port-Louis, 02 97 82 19 13, http://musee.lorient.fr ) or simply soak up the travel atmosphere of this city with its granite ramparts and cannons overlooking the Lorient harbor, which you can reach by batobus.

Route 11: Port de pêche (Lorient) - La Pointe (Port-Louis)/Sunday route 14: Quai des Indes (Lorient) - Pen-Mané (Locmiquélic) - La Pointe (Port-Louis)/Summer route 15: Quai de Rohan (Lorient) - Cité de la Voile (Lorient) - Kernevel (Larmor Plage) - La Pointe (Port-Louis). For further information: 02 97 21 28 29 or www.ctrl.fr

A full program before heading back to Dihan for another trip to your atypical Morbihan accommodation, wellness spa and gourmet baskets.