Car Hire in Lorient, France
Lorient, Brittany's fourth- largest city, is situated on an enormous natural harbour protected against the ocean by the Île de Groix and strategically yet proudly located in the junction of the rivers Scorff, Ter and Blavet. An operating, rather depressing port today, it once was an essential base for French and English colonialism, and was started in the mid-seventeenth century for trading operations by the Compagnie des Indes, a similar to that of the Dutch and English East India Companies. Aside from the name, little else remains to suggest the plundered wealth that once arrived here. Over the past war, Lorient has been a major target for the Allies; the Germans held out until May 1945, through which time the city was almost entirely destroyed. The only substantial remains were the U-boat pens - eventually greatly improved by the French for their nuclear submarines.
Across the estuary in Port-Louis is the
Musée de la Compagnie des Indes lies an attractive 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 certainly 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 considerably smaller version of Belle-Île, and holds some beautiful beaches to stimulate day-trippers.
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