On a rare Tuesday afternoon, at home, we decided to visit Port Louis again. In my beautiful Morbihan of my lovely Bretagne and belle France. This is just 35 minutes from my house and we have been here several times, well maybe three times. Let me tell you a bit more on Port Louis!
I start my having my bad luck each time either skip it for some reason or the museums citadelle were close as was the case today. Anyway, some new picture I like to keep in my blog, and we ,of course, will be back. I have new information so hopefully once in will be able to detail the visit. Hope you enjoy as I.
The Port Louis is easily reach from my house on road D781 coming from the Hennebont exit on the N165. Parking was done by the Grande rue or as today we parked next to it at Avenue du Fort de l’Aigle. It is an impressive fortress and must visit if in the area with better luck…going renovations but still open…
A bit more on Port Louis tell us that on the old Blavet was born in the Gallo-Roman era and has quietly developed over the centuries. Occupied by the Spaniards from the end of the 16C, the Breton city saw its invaders leave a century later. At the beginning of the 16C, it took its current name in honor of Louis XIII who made it a fortified city and a key element in the defense of the harbor. It experienced significant growth in the 19C thanks to its important sardine fishing activity. Today, the Breton city is mainly known for its charm and its tourist appeal.
The citadel of Port-Louis is an impressive building, marked by the Breton history of the 16-17C. It was built by the Spanish and modified in the 17C by the French. Inside, part of the collection is devoted to rescue at sea. From the first sailing boats and oars to ocean-going tugs and helicopter transport, it tells about maritime fraternity, the courage of men and the evolution of rescue techniques. The ocean treasures space invites you on a journey into the depths of the seas, into the abyssal universe … The visit takes you through the exhibitions or permanent collections, or in the recesses of the citadel.
This is still a military compound, but you can enter the two wonderful museums in waiting… These are the National Maritime Museum or musée de la Marine and the other the East Indies Company museum or the Musée de la Compagnie des Indies.
Briefly this time; the National Maritime Museum traces several centuries of naval history. The collections of the Naval Museum extend in part of the rooms bordering the Place d’Armes. The first part is devoted to the epic of rescue at sea. It tells the daily life of seafarers who risk their lives to save the lives of others, with the help of a unique collection of old objects, models of ships. and audio and video testimonials. Philippe de Kerhallet’s canoe, built in the 19C in Le Havre and restored at the end of the 1970s, is an example of this exceptional heritage. The second part takes visitors along the sea routes of the Far East. The tour begins with the evocation of trade routes through old navigation instruments and part of the models from the collection of Admiral François-Edmond Pâris, then underwater archeology is approached through objects from the excavations of the Mauritius wreck, a Dutch ship that was wrecked off Gabon in 1609.
The Musée de la Marine is a wonderful recollection of the seafaring French/Breton and its seafaring skills. webpage: http://www.musee-marine.fr/musee-national-de-la-marine-port-louis
The Company of the Indies museum retraces the history and epics of this exotic international trade in Lorient through magnificent period pieces and reconstructions. The East India Company, created by Colbert in 1664, it settled in the harbor of Port-Louis and in the locality of Faouëdic in 1666. Through diversified collections, the museum presents a route allowing to understand the history of the trading companies, the development of the city of Lorient and its port. You will also discover the life of the crews and navigation aboard the vessels of the Compagnie des Indes. The activity of the various counters as well as the goods transported are also presented.
The musée de la compagnie des Indies covering épisodes to far régions such as Africa, Asia, and the Americas. webpage: https://musee.lorient.bzh/museum-english-version/
Again, you have a small but wonderful white soft sand beach next to the Citadelle! In fact, you cross the walls of it to enter the beach! This is the Grande Plage. This is an artificial beach made by king Louis-Philippe’s wife . This is why it is frequently nicknamed the royal beach. Before that, the beach existed with less sand and was nicknamed Grand Sablon. This long 200 meters ‘beach has a restaurant directly situated on the sand and a row of 116 bathing cabins., Access is through a door built in the fortifications.
The port of Port-Louis pleasure marina offers 450 berths on pontoons, including 50 visitor berths. Located at the entrance to the harbor, it is a port full of charm and authentic character, located a stone’s throw from the Compagnie des Indes Museum and the Marine Museum. Both inside the Citadel, see above. In addition to its architectural and historical interest, the port of Port-Louis offers all the necessary comfort for boaters! Yachtsmen on a stopover can now benefit from a comfortable welcome and adapted services. Open on the port by large bay windows, the new harbor master’s office has a friendly reception point as well as a panoramic terrace with a magnificent view over the harbor of Lorient. Official webpage: https://www.ports-paysdelorient.fr/en/harbours/port-louis-marina
During WWII, the Citadel of Port-Louis served as a prison, torture center and place of execution for resistance fighters. This of Port-Louis pronounced, without the accused being heard, 69 death sentences. The victims, many of whom had their hands and feet surrounded by wire and blindfolded, were shot at the edge of the pit and received the final blow from a burst of submachine guns. On May 18, 1945, a mass grave was discovered in the Citadel of Port-Louis, containing 69 corpses, among which six bodies could not be identified (three of them were subsequently identified), including that of a woman. A 70th body was discovered in 1995 inside the Citadel. A memorial in memory of the resistance fighters executed in front of the Citadel of Port-Louis was inaugurated on October 30, 1960. The executioners were found but none serve sentences due to the amnesty negotiated from the nations involved after the war! A webpage on the memorials in France on the one in Port Louis: https://www.memorialgenweb.org/memorial3/html/fr/resultcommune.php?idsource=4861
The Saint-Pierre Chapel , located Place Saint-Pierre and built to replace the old Gothic church in the town of Loc-Péran of 1553, which was demolished in 1859. The altar and the altarpiece, in marble and wood, date from 1863 and seem to be the work of sculptor Le Brun. In the left niche, stands John and the eagle which is his emblem. In the niche on the right stands Paul and the sword that evokes his martyrdom. There are two wooden statues from the 16C. The paving, located on Place Saint-Pierre and contiguous to the new chapel of 1859, includes a tombstone of 1578, the only vestige of the old church of 1553, The chapel was finished in 1861.
The city of Port Louis on its heritage; https://www.ville-portlouis.fr/64-decouverte/485-presentation.html
The Lorient South Brittany local tourist office on Port Louis : https://www.lorientbretagnesudtourisme.fr/?s=Port-Louis
The Bretagne region tourist office on Port Louis : https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/southern-brittany-morbihan-gulf/port-louis/
There you go folks, ,another beautiful dandy citadel in glorious Port Louis. Remember, two museums in one fortification, unique but that is my belle France. Hope you enjoy the post as I visiting again this coastal harbor town of my beautiful Morbihan.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
Leave a Reply