Places of interest around Lorient Lorient   Lorient takes its name from the original site where the India Company built its first premises from where it conducted business with India and China, hence the name L'Orient. The town now has five ports including the military port which has a submarine base.   Lorient today is very modern as it was completely rebuilt after the second world war. Due to its strategic importance Lorient was occupied by the Germans in 1940 and razed to the ground by allied bombardment in order to prevent the Germans from using it.   However Lorient is not without interest for the visitor; apart from the ports there is an excelent example of modern ecclesiastical building in the form of the Church of Notre Dame de Victoire and a splendid sea exhibit. There are numerous boat trips available and the coastline around Lorient has a vast expance of unspoiled beaches.   HENNEBONT   Hennebont is built on the banks of the River Blavet at the head of the estuary. As well as the industrial museums there is the 16th century Basilica of our Lady of Paradise. Hennebont is better known for its stud farm which is open to visitors and has organized tours. ISLE DE GROIX   Griox Island lies a few kilometers of the coast off Lorient. It is an charming small island some 8km long and 3km wide offering impressive towering cliffs and high rocks on its north coast and sandy beaches in secluded coves on the south coast. There are a few small towns and a large number of tiny hamlets scattered around the island which is a nature reserve and home to a wide variety of sea birds. Several ferries a day run from Lorient to Groix.   LARMOR PLAGE   This small town adjacent to Lorient is a super seaside resort having clean sandy beaches which slope gently down to the sea making it a delightful spot for bathing. In the town centre there is an interesting church which dates back to the 12th century but has been remodelled several times until the 17th century.   PORT LOUIS   This small town situated on the headland at the entrance to Lorient harbor has both a fishing port and a pleasure boat port. The the summer months this is a busy holiday resort and there are many interesting sites for the visitor to persue. The most important being the Citadel a 16th century fortress which is in a state of perfect preservation and today houses the French East India Company Museum as well as the Boat Museum, the Powder Factory . Back to the map