Introduction: Lorient La base
June 1940, Germany undertook the construction of a submarine base on an area of 26 hectares located to protect their submarines from the aerial bombardments carried out by the English. This base was Nazi’s Germany biggest submarine base during the war. All the German U-boat (submarine) were docked there. The base is called the Keroman submarine base.
Originally the Block submarine would get out of the sea from the pens in the K2 block and then hop on a platform that would store it in the storage area in K1 or K2. But during the time the submarine was on the transport platform it was vulnerable.
The K3 block, made of 7 pens later avoided this risk and the submarine would enter its pens and stay there for maintenance.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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Getting there
The easiest way to get the Keroman Submarine base or Lorient La base (nowaday) is by car. There are tons of parking lots all around the base making it convenient for it.
But if you prefer a train, you can get a direct train from Paris to Lorient. Or a Flixbus as well. Then hop on a city bus (13 or T2) until the base.
Moving Around
Moving around the Lorient La Base can completely be done on foot. Plenty of parking spot around. And to move within the city, there are a couples of bus line.
When to Visit
Lorient La Base can be visited all year round. There is not any particular time to visit it.
Where to Stay
We would recommend to only pop by the base and then kept on but If you want to stay in Lorient, then we would suggest:
- Apartment: Appartement Rue du Port
- Hotel: Hôtel Victor Hugo Lorient
- Hotel+: Mercure Lorient Centre
What to Eat
There are 2 restaurants available in La Base. One of them is a creperie and the other a more regular restaurant.
We opted for the creperie and its was a blast. The crepes were super good (both salty and sweet one), the cider was tasty, the service friendly and the environment authentic. Plus, we could see the end of the Submarine Flore.
Things to do
Lorient La Base & Submarine Block K1
You can walk freely around the old Submarine base. The Block K1 is now converted in a storage facilities and boat construction area. The submarine pens is open to be seen and used to store other boats.
Flore submarine, Museum and Block K2
Located in the K2 Block, discover the working principle of a submarine before watching an amazing multi dimensions video. Then enter the submarine Fiore and discover it would have been able to dive in it.
Duration: 45min to 1h15min
Submarine base & Block K3
A guided tour where the doors of the K3 block opened and reveal the largest building constructed in Lorient with a surface 24 000m² and 7 pens.
Duration 1h30min
Book here in French, and here in English
If you do not want to get in the K3 block with the tour, you can still hang around and see the pens from a peer located in front of it.
The undersea museum of Lorient
Visit the oldest submariners rescue center in the world. Open in 1942, it’s the only center open to public. This tour, unique in Europe, lets you dive into the discovery of deep-sea rescue techniques!
Duration: 1h30min
Cité de la voile Eric Tabarly
Learn about sailing and offshore racing via films, interactive activities, 4D cinemas, virtual races and much more.
Duration: 2h30min
Offshore Racing
Follow a guide and discover the leading European Offshore Racing Centre.Approach the different boats docked there: maxi-trimarans, Figaro, Vendée Globe racing yachts and the mini 6.50.
Duration: 1h
Sailing Tour
Embark on board a sailboat with a professional skipper and discover the joys of sailing on the open sea.
Duration: 1h
Itinerary
There isn’t really an itinerary to follow, but for us we would do:
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- Lorient La Base & Submarine Block K1
- Submarine base & Block K3
- Flore submarine, Museum and Block K2
The reason we made up this guide is also because we got confused on what to do there and couldn’t do everything we wanted.
“Permission to lower the scope!”
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