Lorient Submarine Base

The construction of the U-boat bunkers in Lorient took place during World War II under the direction of the Organisation Todt on behalf of the Wehrmacht. From June 1940 to August 1944, the port of Lorient became the largest U-boat base for the Kriegsmarine. The bunker complexes included several sections, among them the so-called dome bunkers with a special slipway and turntable, designed for smaller U-boats. The Scorff bunker, another complex with wet docks, was later used as a workshop due to siltation. The most famous large bunkers, Keroman I and II, were built on rocky ground and featured an innovative hauling system with a transfer platform to lift U-boats to an elevated level. Keroman III, completed in 1943, offered space for up to 13 U-boats with its wet and dry docks. A planned Keroman IV was only partially realized. Nearby was also the headquarters of Admiral Dönitz. The bunkers largely withstood Allied bombing raids, while the city of Lorient itself was heavily damaged. A French naval officer, Jacques Stosskopf, involved in the construction, secretly collaborated with the Résistance and was executed for it; the U-boat base in Lorient was later named after him.

The U-boat bunkers are located in Lorient, in the Morbihan department in the Brittany region, France. They are situated at an elevation of approximately 11 meters above sea level.

Today, the former U-boat bunkers in Lorient are partly repurposed for civilian use or stand empty. They pose a challenge for the municipality but are increasingly integrated into a tourism concept. Visitors can explore parts of the facilities, including the diving tower and Keroman III, which is accessible through guided tours and offers panoramic views of the harbor area. Some bunkers serve as warehouses or workshops, while other harbor basins are used for pleasure boats.

• Fort du Cabellou (fortress), approx. 43.7 km away
• City fortifications of Concarneau (city fortification), approx. 44.1 km away
• Château-Gaillard (castle), approx. 46.4 km away
• Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Vannes (sacred building), approx. 46.5 km away