Keep exploring

As we make our way between Lorient’s past and present, here are a few places not to miss as you continue exploring the city and the surrounding area. If you’re fascinated by the maritime world and offshore racing, head to Lorient La Base and explore the Cité de la Voile Éric Tabarly, a unique interactive center housed at the former submarine base. To continue your journey into history, take the cross-harbor ferry to the Citadel of Port-Louis and its French East India Company Museum, which immerses visitors in the epic story of the great ships of the 18th century. A little farther offshore, the island of Groix offers an island escape amid rugged coastline and colorful beaches. If you enjoy unspoiled seascapes, don’t miss the Étel estuary and the picturesque islet of Saint-Cado, a peaceful haven known for its oyster farms. For those drawn to heritage and rural traditions, a trip to Guémené-sur-Scorff takes you into the heart of the Scorff Valley, where you can explore medieval remains and sample the town’s famous artisan-made andouille sausage. If the mysteries of history fascinate you, the Alignments of Carnac offer a spectacular walk among thousands of menhirs—ancient standing stones erected facing the ocean. Farther west, Quiberon’s Côte Sauvage offers sweeping views of the Atlantic, as powerful waves surge toward its rugged cliffs. For a touch of art and pastoral charm, stop in Pont-Aven, the painters’ town, where watermills line a lush green estuary. If fortified towns are more your style, Concarneau’s Ville Close will charm you with its medieval ramparts, set in the heart of one of France’s largest fishing ports. Finally, for a cultural experience surrounded by nature, Domaine de Kerguéhennec in Bignan invites you to wander through its 18th-century château and expansive park of contemporary sculpture.