Steady Pedals

The morning started sitting in the early morning sun with a relaxing pain aux raisin and tea for breakast. Then it was a healthy 40 minute walk to the first sightseeing stop – Block K3

To put us in the mood, I played a little of the “Das Boot” theme tune as we walked. Lorient was a major submarine base in WW2. Now the area is a mix of boat related activity, with a large marina housing ocean going racing boats. But towering over them are the three remaining concrete blocks housing U-boat pens. The largest is Block K3 which is open for guided tours.

Once through the large steel blast door a wide corridor runs the length of block with seven bays capable of housing 13 U-boats in total branching off.

With typical German efficiency each bay was designated a unique function, with a workshop behind for repairs. The tour visited the battery area, subsequently used by the French navy.

Final stop was the roof, built with blast chambers to prevent bomb damage. In fact these worked so well, that the Allies unable to destroy the blocks, bombed the surrounding area, flattening over 80% of the town, in order to cut supplies.

Following the theme, next stop was a French submarine from the 1960’s. We were able to walk through the entire length of the boat. You expect it to be cramped, but it was still a shock just how small everything was.

By this stage we were getting hungry, so a traditional Breton lunch was called for. Luckily the was a cafe in the dock area serving just what we needed, Galettes and local cider (in tea cups ! )

Final stop a subsea museum. In fact it largely focussed on the development of escape from submarines. The building had housed the French navy until the mid nineties and was their training facility for underwater evacuations and still contained the practice and decompression chambers.

Thoroughly versed in everything submarine, we walked back to town to relax and plan next week.