Lorient
From Freepedia
| Lorient | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Région | Bretagne |
| Département | Morbihan (sous-préfecture) |
| Arrondissement | Lorient |
| Canton | Chief town of 3 cantons |
| INSEE Code | |
| Postal code | 56100 |
| Mayor Term of office | Norbert Métairie (PS) 2001-2007 |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération du Pays de Lorient |
| Longitude | |
| Latitude | |
| Altitude | average: minimum: maximum: |
| Area | 1,748 ha / 17.48 km² |
| Population without double-counting | 59,189 (1999) |
| Population density | 3386 pers/km² |
Lorient is a commune and a seaport of Brittany, France, in the Morbihan département, of which it is a sous-préfecture. Population: city: 61,844; urban area: 186,144.
Contents |
History
At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were doing business with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis. They later built additional ones across the bay in 1628, at the location which later became Lorient.
Later, the French East India Company, founded in 1664 and chartered by King Louis XIV, established shipyards there, thus giving an impetus to the development of the city.
The place was called L'Orient (the Orient in French).
Lorient housed a German submarine base during World War II; although the city was heavily damaged by Allied bombing raids, the base survived through the end of the war.As they could't destroyed the Base, the Allies decided to bomb the City, on purpose, to cut the supplying of the U-Boats.No gasoline, no food, no torpedos... and it was impossible for those submarines to go to the Atlantic.Between the 14 of january 1943 and the 17 of february 1943 500 explosive bombs and more than 60000 incendiary bombs fell down on the town.Lorient was destroyed at more than 90%.
Today The former submarine base of Kéroman is open to the public, you can visit it all year.During the tour you can see the different pens of the block K3 an go through the roof (3,40m to 7m thick) to a former anti aircraft defence tower.From it you've got an incredible view of the harbour and of the former head quarter of Dönitz in Lorient.
Geography
Lorient is located by the Atlantic Ocean.
Miscellaneous
Lorient was the birthplace of Jules Simon (1814-1896), statesman and philosopher.
Lorient is the home of a major Celtic music festival, the Festival Interceltique.
Twin towns
- Galway, Ireland
- Vigo, Spain
- Wirral, England
- Ventspils, Latvia
- Ludwigshafen, Germany
- Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
