A stroll through Port-Louis

Park in the car park near the citadel.

(S/E) Head towards the entrance to the citadel without going in, then turn left to reach the Grande Plage. Walk along the top of this beach past the old bathing huts. On the other side of the entrance to Lorient harbour, there are views of Larmor-Plage, the Île de Groix and the Pointe de Gâvres. At the “Le Casino” restaurant, leave the beach and take the path almost directly opposite leading to the Citadel Memorial.

Reach this place of remembrance, where 72 graves of those executed by firing squad from June 1944 onwards have been gathered. Go round the enclosure on the left and continue along the path beside the ramparts. On the left, there is a view of Lorient, where the imposing submarine base built by the Germans is clearly visible.

At the end, go down a small flight of steps and continue along the street leading to the marina.

(1) Turn left to go round the harbour master’s office, and walk to the end of the quay where the jetty for the Lorient–Port-Louis ferry is located. Walk along the quay and continue all the way along the marina to the dry dock area.

(2) Cross the boulevard to head up Rue Saint-Pierre – against the flow of traffic – and turn left onto the path running parallel to this street. Turn right to reach the Chapelle Saint-Pierre (1859–1861).

Turn right onto Grande Rue, a cobbled pedestrianised street lined with numerous shops, some of which are rather quirky. Pass the Petite Rue on your right and turn into the next street to reach the Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, which was destroyed by a lightning strike on 1 May 1918 and rebuilt from 1921 onwards, retaining only the pseudo-classical Renaissance-style façade of the original building. Near the church, note the Notre-Dame Fountain (1861), restored in 1995.

(3) With your back to the church, turn into Ruelle du Marché, a cobbled alleyway that leads to a football pitch. Follow the footpath which goes round the left-hand side of the pitch, then past a playground, and leads to the car park (S/E).

This route can be walked in simple flat shoes.

Visit to the citadel (admission fee applies).

Citadel Memorial.

Marina.
.
St Peter’s Chapel.
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption.