Volvo Ocean Race

Lorient

About Lorient

Lorient Race Village is now CLOSED

For more information visit the Lorient stopover website www.volvooceanracelorient.com.

Lorient Race Village will be open from June 16 - July 1, 2012

The Race Village is located at:
Base Sous-Marins de Kéroman
56 100 Lorient

See the location here

__________________________________

Lorient Race Weekend

- Friday June 29, 1200 local (1000 UTC) Pro-Am Race

- Saturday June 30, 1302 local (1102 UTC) Bretagne In-Port Race

- Sunday July 1, 1302 local (1102 UTC) - Leg 9 start to Galway

Key dates

- Saturday June 16 - Race Village officially opens

- Sunday June 17 - July 1 - Academy Try Sailing

- Friday June 22 - Academy Team Racing Clinic

- Friday June 22 - Beach Clean, Keep the Oceans Clean!

- Saturday June 23 - Meet Skeleton Sea

- Saturday June 23-24 - Academy Team Racing

- Sunday June 24 - Environmental Art Workshops with Skeleton Sea

- Friday June 29 - Pro-Am Race

- Saturday June 30 - Environmental Art Workshops with Skeleton Sea

- Saturday June 30 - In-Port Race

- Sunday July 1 - Leg 9 start to Galway

Find out more about the Volvo Ocean Race Academy and Keep the Oceans Clean.

__________________________________

Situated in Brittany in north-west France, Lorient has a long-standing link to the maritime world. Back in the 1600s, Lorient was part of the chain linking Europe to India, and later the French East India Company, backed by King Louis XIV, created a thriving base there. It remains a functional port but that, in appearance terms, is pretty much where the historical links end.

Much of that port infrastructure was destroyed during World War II, with Lorient being defiantly held by the Germans until the end of the war and as such, suffering extreme Allied bombing. Key targets for the Allies were the German U-Boat pens, but the Keroman submarine base survives to this day and is open to the public as a tourist attraction. The majority of the rest of the city was destroyed and rebuilt in the 1950s. Henceforth, and since 2006, the city of Lorient has been qualified as “Ville d’Art et d’Histoire” which reflects its ambition to develop its heritage and to liven it up.

In terms of attractions, Lorient is sprinkled with the usual mixture of street-side bars, cafes and restaurants for those fond of the authentic French experience. As with almost anywhere in France, it is not hard to find great food and wine. The region is famed for its high quality fresh seafood, as well as its delicious crepes and local cider.

Culturally, there is a strong Celtic feeling in Lorient. Each August, the city hosts the InterCeltic festival, when no less than 700,000 spectators take to the streets to watch and take part in traditional performances by musicians, writers, dancers, singers, artists and sculptors. One of the most famous Festival in Europe.

Did you know: Lorient has been a twin town of Galway since 1978.

Things to do in Lorient

Visit the Lorient Stopover website www.volvooceanracelorient.com.

As a dynamic new territory, Le Pays de Lorient attracts each year more and more visitors which are looking for vast beaches, green spaces or cultural activities.

As an open sea city, Lorient presents a huge number of attractions composing with its vast coast line (Scuba-diving, Surf, Kayak, Sail, Golf,...).

Among others, The Eric Tabarly Sailing Museum takes part in creating the new image of the city. Over 3 hours of learning about the sea and skippers in an ultra-modern glass building, visitors can enjoy the place and have good time by sailing with experienced skipper.

Moreover the submarine base at the heart of the city is one of the most obvious historical heritages of the Second World War. Thus, let visit the submarine “La Flore” and discover the life on board.

There is also a museum depicting elements of the city’s past in Port-Louis (the Musée de la Compagnie des Indes), and the Naval Museum which are part of the Citadel, one of the most beautiful citadels on the French coast line.

The island of Groix is also part of Le Pays de Lorient. From Lorient you may cross to the island, 8km by 4km realm of sheer for one day journey. Getting around the island by walking or cycling and look with admiration dramatic cliffs, sheltered and sandy beaches.

The 100 kilometers of coast in the Lorient area offer vast attractive beaches. Wild River banks inside the country make you practice kayak or just go out in barges along the Blavet Valley. Enjoy a large number of hiker’s tracks which are just perfect for family walks or sweethearts’ strolls.

Numerous traditional markets with delicious smells of local products take place during the whole year and groups of artists and craftsmen in their workshops at Pont-Scorff come to life to liven the area up…

And less than one hour driving: Pont-Aven and its impressionist painters tour, Carnac and its megaliths, Quimper and Vannes Medieval Cities, Cruise in the Bay of Morbihan.