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Lorient

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Redirect Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox French commune

Lorient ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; Template:Langx) is a town (commune) and seaport in the Morbihan department of Brittany in western France.

HistoryEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Prehistory and classical antiquityEdit

Beginning around 3000 BC, settlements in the area of Lorient are attested by the presence of megalithic architecture. Ruins of Roman roads (linking Vannes to Quimper and Port-Louis to Carhaix) confirm Gallo-Roman presence.

FoundingEdit

File:Lorient-au-18-eme-siecle.jpg
Lorient in the 18th century

In 1664, Jean-Baptiste Colbert founded the French East Indies Company.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In June 1666, an ordinance of Louis XIV granted lands of Port-Louis to the company, along with Faouédic on the other side of the roadstead. One of its directors, Denis Langlois, bought lands at the confluence of the Scorff and the Blavet rivers, and built slipways. At first, it only served as a subsidiary of Port-Louis, where offices and warehouses were located.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The following years, the operation was almost abandoned, but in 1675, during the Franco-Dutch War, the French East Indies Company scrapped its base in Le Havre since it was too exposed during wartime, and transferred its infrastructures to l'Enclot, out of which Lorient grew. The company then erected a chapel, workshops, forges, and offices, leaving Port-Louis permanently.<ref name="Chaumeil P68">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The city's name is derived from Le Soleil d'Orient, the first ship constructed at the site, in 1669. Workers gave the site the name of the ship, which, by contraction, became simply L'Orient and finally Lorient.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The French Royal Navy opened a base there in 1690, under the command of Colbert de Seignelay, who inherited his father's position as Secretary of State of the Navy. At the same time, privateers from Saint-Malo took shelter there.<ref name="Chaumeil P68"/> In 1700, the town grew out of l'Enclot following a law forcing people to leave the domain to move to the Faouédic heath. In 1702, there were about 6,000 inhabitants in Lorient, though activities slowed, and the town began to decline.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Growth under the Company of the IndiesEdit

File:Le port et la rade de Lorient vers 1800.jpg
L'Enclos at the end of the 18th century

The town experienced a period of growth when John Law formed the Perpetual Company of the Indies by absorbing other chartered companies (including the French East India Company), and chose Lorient as its operations base. Despite the economic bubble caused by the Company in 1720, the city was still growing<ref name="Chaumeil P70">Template:Cite journal</ref> as it took part in the Atlantic triangular slave trade. From 1720 to 1790, 156 ships deported an estimated 43,000 slaves.<ref>René Estienne, « Les archives des compagnies commerciales et la traite : l'exemple de la Compagnie des Indes », Service historique de la Défense, Lorient, janvier 2009</ref> In 1732, the Company decided to transfer its sales headquarters from Nantes to Lorient, and asked architect Jacques Gabriel to raise new buildings out of dimension stones to host these new activities, and to embellish the L'Enclos domain.<ref name="Chaumeil P70"/> Sales began in 1734, peaking up to 25 million livres tournois.<ref name="Chaumeil P71">Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1769, the Company's monopoly ended with the scrapping of the company itself, under the influence of the physiocrats.<ref name="Chaumeil P73">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Until the Company's closure, the city took advantage of its prosperity. In 1738, there were 14,000 inhabitants, or 20,000 considering the outlying villages of Kerentrech, Merville, La Perrière, Calvin, and Keryado, which are now neighbourhoods within the present-day city limits. In 1735, new streets were laid out and in 1738, it was granted city status. Further work was undertaken as the streets began to be paved, wharves and slipways were built along the Faouédic river, and thatched houses were replaced with stone buildings following 18th-century classical architecture style as it was the case for l'Enclos.<ref name="Chaumeil P71"/> In 1744, the city walls were erected, and proved quickly useful as Lorient was raided in September 1746.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Following the demise of the Company, the city lost one-seventh of its population.<ref name="Chaumeil P74">Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 1769, the city evolved into a full-scale naval base for the Royal Navy when the King bought out the Company's infrastructures for 17,500,000 livres tournois.<ref name="Chaumeil P73"/> From 1775 on, the American Revolutionary War brought a surge in activity, as many privateers hailed from Lorient. When the war ended, transatlantic lines opened to the United States, and in 1785, a new commercial company started under Calonne's tutelage (then Controller-General of Finances) with the same goal as the previous entities, i.e. conducting trade in India and China, with again Lorient standing as its operative base.<ref name="Chaumeil P74"/>

The French Revolution and the subsequent Napoleonic wars put an end to trade for nearly two decades.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

19th and early 20th centuriesEdit

File:Berthe Morisot The Harbor at Lorient.jpg
The Harbor at Lorient, 1869 painting by Berthe Morisot.
File:Lorient - Cours de la Bôve (1907).jpg
Cours de la Bôve (1907)

Maritime activities slowed at the start of the 19th century. Activity at the shipyards and naval base reached a low that would last until the July Monarchy. During this period, the city was more of an administrative center.<ref name="Chaumeil P76">Template:Cite journal</ref> The first secondary school opened in 1822, a lazaretto in 1823, and barracks in 1839.<ref name="Chaumeil P77">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The city began to modernize in the second quarter of the century; in 1825, a roofed slipway and a drydock were added to the shipyards.<ref name="Chaumeil P76"/> A sardine cannery<ref name="Chaumeil P80">Template:Cite journal</ref> opened the same year. The first gasworks was built in 1845.<ref name ="Chaumeil P79">Template:Cite journal</ref>

In the second half of the 19th century, the steam engine allowed the ports to strengthen their output.<ref name="Chaumeil P77"/> The first locomotive reached the city in 1865.<ref name="Chaumeil P80"/> In 1861, the original drydock was enlarged as a second one was dug out. The same year, the ironclad Couronne was built on a design directly inspired by the Gloire class, though unlike her wooden-hull predecessors, she was entirely made of iron. She was followed in 1876 by the ironclad Redoutable, the first ship in the world with a steel structure.

In 1889, fishing expanded following the creation of the municipal fish market,<ref name="Chaumeil P79"/> and the arrival of steam-powered fishing trawlers in 1900. The Keroman fishing port construction started in 1920.

World War IIEdit

In 1941, the Germans, then occupying France, chose to establish a U-boat base at Lorient. The submarine facilities quickly became targets of constant bombing from Allied air forces. The Germans decided to build a complex of bomb-proof submarine pens, their largest U-boat base, which would house the 2nd and the 10th U-boat flotillas for the bulk of the Battle of the Atlantic. Karl Dönitz, then supreme commander of the U-boat Arm, moved his staff into the Kernevel villa, just across the water from Keroman, in Larmor-Plage.

In 1943–1944, Lorient was nearly razed to the ground by Allied bombing, which failed to destroy the submarine pens despite 4,000 tons of bombs dropped.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> According to the book Steel Boats, Iron Hearts (by former Template:GS crewman Hans Goebeler), after the Allies failed to damage the U-boat bunkers the bombing shifted to the city itself to deny the Germans workers and other resources. Before the bombings, thousands of leaflets were dropped on the population instructing the inhabitants to evacuate.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Between 14 January 1943 and 17 February 1943, as many as 500 high-explosive aerial bombs and more than 60,000 incendiary bombs were dropped on Lorient.

After the Normandy landings in June 1944 and the subsequent breakout, Lorient was surrounded by Allied troops on 12 August 1944. Its usefulness as a naval base gone, Lorient was left in a state of siege, surrounded by the French Forces of the West, supported by a US infantry division. On 10 May 1945, the German garrison surrendered, two days after the official final unconditional surrender of Germany. In 1949, the city of Lorient was awarded the Legion of Honour and the Croix de guerre 1939–1945.

ReconstructionEdit

File:Hôtel de Ville de Lorient.JPG
The Hôtel de Ville (city hall)

In April 1945, the Reconstruction Ministry advocated the use of temporary wooden shacks. These shelters were shipped as a kit to be built on site. In 1948, there were 28 settlements under the city's authority, and 20 more in the urban area, distributed among the neighboring towns of Ploemeur, Lanester, Hennebont and Quéven. Each of these neighbourhoods could hold up to 280 houses. A new Hôtel de Ville (city hall) was completed in 1960.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

This temporary housing would stand from 10 to 40 years depending on the location. The last shack in the largest settlement, Soye, was torn down in 1991. Today, only a few buildings dating to the 18th century still stand.

GeographyEdit

LocationEdit

File:Map lorient.jpg
Map of Lorient

Lorient is located on the south coast of Brittany, where the rivers Scorff and Blavet join to form the roadstead of Lorient, before discharging into the Atlantic Ocean. The river Ter used to flow into the estuary to the south of the city, however, a dam was constructed in 1967, stopping the flow. The city is Template:Convert south-west of Paris, Template:Convert south-west of Rennes and Template:Convert north-west of Nantes.

The city comprises different neighbourhoods: Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

  • Bois du Château
  • Keryado
  • Saint-Armel
  • Kerentrech
  • Le Gaillec
  • Le Manio
  • Kerdual
  • Kervénanec
  • Lanveur

Template:Col-break

  • Keroman
  • Kergroise
  • Carnel
  • Kerfichant
  • Kerolay
  • Kerguestenen
  • Le Mir
  • La Perrière
  • La Ville Neuve
  • La Ville en Bois

Template:Col-break

  • Kermélo
  • Le Ter
  • Kerlin
  • Merville
  • La Nouvelle Ville
  • Le « bout du monde »
  • Saint-Maudé
  • Frébault-Polygone
  • Quehélio
  • Kervaric

Template:Col-break

  • Keryvalant
  • La Fontaine des Anglais
  • Kerforn
  • Le petit et le grand Batteur
  • Le Kreisker
  • Kerguillet
  • Le Parco
  • Soye

Template:Col-end

Adjacent towns: Template:Geographic Location

ClimateEdit

Under the Köppen climate classification, Lorient experiences an oceanic climate (Cfb), with mild winters and cool to warm summers. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year. Frost is rare in winter, as are days over Template:Convert during summer.

Template:Weather box

PopulationEdit

In 2017, Lorient had a population of 57,149.<ref name=pophis/> In 2017, its intercommunality Lorient Agglomération had 203,309 inhabitants.<ref name="Lorient agglo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lorient is the most populous commune in Morbihan département, although the préfecture is the slightly smaller commune of Vannes. Inhabitants of Lorient are called Lorientais.

The population data in the table and graph below refer to the commune of Lorient proper, in its geography at the given years. The commune of Lorient absorbed the former commune of Keryado in 1947.<ref name=ehess/>

Template:Historical populations

Breton languageEdit

The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on 25 January 2007.

In 2008, 2.71% of the children attended the bilingual schools in primary education.<ref>Template:In lang Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue</ref>

EconomyEdit

File:Fregate forbin.jpg
Ongoing building of Template:Sclass2 Template:Ship at DCNS shipyard in 2006
File:Vraquier-Iolcos-Triumph.jpg
Soy being unloaded at Kergroise port

PortsEdit

File:Seven Seas Voyager in Lorient.ogv
Template:Ship leaving port

Lorient is commonly referred to as La ville aux cinq ports ("the city of five ports"): military, fishing, commercial, passengers and yachting.<ref name=lorientports>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2010, the sector represented 9,600 direct jobs for a total 12,000 jobs (with indirect jobs accounted for), or 12% of local employment.<ref name="ouest-france: secteur maritime">Template:Cite journal</ref>

  • Keroman fishing port (fr): In 2010, with a catch of 27,000 tons, it was second only to Boulogne-sur-Mer regarding catch tonnage among French fishing ports, but first considering the cash value.<ref name="ouest-france: pêche">Template:Cite journal</ref> It accounts for 3,000 jobs (including 700 fishermen) and 130 fishing vessels.
  • Kergroise cargo port : With 2.6 million tons of cargo per year (including oil, cattle fodder, sand, containers), it ranks first in Brittany.<ref name="Lorient kergroise">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Marinas : mooring berths are dispatched on Lorient (370), Kernevel (1,000), Port-Louis (450), Gâvres (57) and Guidel (102).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Additionally, there is an Template:Convert long dock dedicated to offshore competitive sailing (Pôle course au large), recently built within the former submarine base.

File:Citadelle de Port-Louis (12) - Port et rade de Lorient.jpg
The port and disused submarine base

IndustryEdit

From its founding, shipbuilding has always been of great importance to the city. DCNS continues the legacy of the formerly state-owned shipyards (colloquially known as l'Arsenal) that began operation in 1690. It still builds warships, mainly frigates. There is also a substantial industrial base in Keroman to support the fishing fleet.

TransportEdit

Lorient South Brittany Airport is situated just west of the city at Lann Bihoue. It operates charter flights and regular flights to Toulouse. It used to operate direct flights to Paris and Lyon all year long and other city such as London and Porto in the Summer.

The Gare de Lorient is the railway station, offering connections to Quimper, Nantes, Rennes, Paris (less than three hours by TGV) and several regional destinations.

EducationEdit

Schools in Lorient belong to the Academy of Rennes.

TertiaryEdit

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  • École supérieure d'art.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

MilitaryEdit

File:Commando jauber1.jpg
The Commando Jaubert storming a ship in a mock assault

Active units based near Lorient:

Lorient Submarine BaseEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

File:Anoriant submarine.jpg
The former submarine pens at Keroman

Lorient was the location of an extensive submarine base, built by the Germans in World War II and used subsequently by the French Navy. Head of the U-Boat Arm Karl Dönitz decided to construct the base on 28 June 1940. Between November 1940 and January 1942 a number of gigantic reinforced concrete structures were built. including three on the Keroman peninsula. They are called K1, K2 and K3. In 1944 work began on a fourth structure. The base was capable of sheltering thirty submarines. Lorient was damaged by Allied bombing raids but the naval base survived the war.

Following the German surrender the base was used by the French Navy, named for Jacques Stosskopf, a hero of the French Resistance who had worked there. The base was decommissioned in 1995 and turned over to civilian use. It's now a museum.

CultureEdit

File:Anoriant3.jpg
Pipers during the grande parade

EventsEdit

Each year in August since 1970, Lorient hosts the Festival interceltique, bringing together artists from all the Celtic world (Brittany, Cornwall, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Galicia, Asturias, Australia, Acadia and Isle of Man). Each year, a Celtic nation is chosen as honored guest. It is one of the biggest festivals in Europe by attendance (800,000 people for the 40th edition<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>)

MediaEdit

Lorient is home to TébéSud (formerly TyTélé), a local TV channel covering Morbihan through DTT.

ReligionEdit

Catholic churches are among the main religious landmarks of Lorient. While the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption was built in 1850 in a revivalist neo-Gothic style, the church of Saint Joan of Arc was built in a neo-Roman style in the 1930s by French architect Jean Desbois and a few years later in 1955, and the modernist church of Notre-Dame-de-Victoire is the highest point of Lorient with its 4-meter-high concrete bell tower though the population never really accepted this new style.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Major Catholic festivals such as Christmas, Carnaval, Easter and the Pardon are celebrated as major feasts of the city.

SportsEdit

FootballEdit

The most popular club in Lorient is FC Lorient, which currently play in Ligue 1, after winning Ligue 2 in 2020. They are nicknamed les Merlus. They play their home fixtures at Stade du Moustoir. Christian Gourcuff has managed the team for over 20 years (aggregate years).

SailingEdit

The converted submarine base has been home port to several skippers and their sailing teams:

  • Jérémie Beyou<ref name="Voile news">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> (Delta Dore),

  • Pascal Bidégorry<ref name="Voile news"/> (Banque Populaire),
  • Franck Cammas<ref name="Voile news"/> (Groupama), winner of the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race
  • Samantha Davies<ref name="Voile news"/> (Roxy),
  • Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty<ref name="Voile news"/> (Maisonneuve),
  • Jean-Pierre Dick<ref name="Voile news"/> (Paprec-Virbac),
  • Yann Elies<ref name="Voile news"/> (Generali),
  • Alain Gautier<ref name="Voile news"/> (Foncia),
  • Sébastien Josse<ref name="Voile news"/> (British Telecom),
  • Marc Thiercelin<ref name="Voile news"/> (DCNS)

Lorient was also a staging port during the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race, as well as the starting point of la Solitaire du Figaro (2009 edition).

Eric Tabarly built three out of his six Pen Duick boats in Lorient.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Notable LorientaisEdit

Template:See also

Arts and literatureEdit

SailorsEdit

PoliticsEdit

SportsEdit

SciencesEdit

OthersEdit

International relationsEdit

Template:See also Lorient is twinned with:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Notes

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project Template:Wikivoyage

Template:Morbihan communes

Template:Authority control

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