Keep exploring

Let’s take a little break from the route, because there’s plenty more to discover around Hennebont. And the good news is, you don’t have to travel far. Just outside the center, follow the Blavet to the former Cistercian Abbey of La Joie.

Founded in the 13th century, the abbey still preserves beautiful 17th-century buildings surrounded by greenery—a peaceful place to slow down and take a walk. Still in Hennebont, you can escape into nature at Kerbihan Botanical Park, where 10 hectares, or about 25 acres, are filled with exotic plants from around the world. Follow the river toward Lanester and the scenery changes again.

At the Kerhervy Boat Graveyard, the wooden remains of old tuna boats lie along the shore, slowly shaped by the rise and fall of the tides. A little farther away, the Étel estuary leads you to the tiny islet of Saint-Cado, connected to the mainland by an old stone bridge. And just offshore, on the rocky islet of Nichtarguer, you’ll spot the famous blue-shuttered house that has become one of Brittany’s most photographed scenes.

If you’d rather step back into the 19th century, head to Quistinic and the village of Poul-Fetan. Among its traditional thatched cottages, old trades and rural life are brought back to life right before your eyes. Ready for some sea air?

Make your way to the Citadel of Port-Louis, whose imposing ramparts still guard the entrance to Lorient harbor. Inside, the Musée de la Compagnie des Indes traces the fascinating story of France’s great overseas trading companies. And in Lorient itself, sailing fans can explore the Cité de la Voile Éric Tabarly, an interactive attraction devoted to offshore sailing and ocean racing, housed at the former submarine base.

If the coast is calling, follow the vast Gâvres–Quiberon dune landscape, a protected stretch of wilderness where huge beaches seem to run on forever. Or, for something a little darker and more mysterious, head to the Roches du Diable near Guilligomarc’h. There, the Ellé River twists through a spectacular jumble of stone surrounded by forest and Breton legends.

Peaceful abbeys, shipwrecked boats, medieval villages, wild dunes, sailing history, and legendary rocks—however you want to continue the adventure, the Lorient region gives you plenty to choose from.