Go through the Broerec'h gateway to discover the old walled town
A mediaeval gateway flanked by two massive towers surrounding the old walled town… Welcome to Hennebont. This fortified town proudly upholds the legacy of its mediaeval architecture. Come and admire it, on foot, on a Thursday if you can as this is when the largest market in the Lorient area takes place!
Click. Inspire. Go…
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Experience Hennebont
Despite being heavily bombed in August 1944, as German troops stuck doggedly to the area around their Lorient naval base, Hennebont underwent a remarkable revival after the war and has been declared a Cité d’Art et d’Histoire. Now it celebrates both its historic, industrial and horsey sides, while you can embark from here on boat trips as far as the Isle of Groix.
Notre-Dame de Paradis Basilica is distinctive for its Flamboyant Gothic style and 65-metre-tall spire. Not far away is the Seneschal’s House at 1, rue de la Paix: a fascinating reminder of Hennebont’s mediaeval past. The annual Mediaeval Festival, held on the last weekend in July, is a great way to rewind the clock and experience what life was like during the Middle Ages. With tournaments between knights and street activities, you’re right in the thick of the action!
Did you know
An iron-clad past…
The Hennebont Ironworks were once the largest employer in the whole of Brittany! They closed in the late 1960s, but have been given a new lease of life thanks to an ecomuseum that charts this eventful history. A ‘black valley’ industrialised landscape over a couple of miles of the Blavet riverbanks.
Saddle up!
Are you a horse riding fan? Half a mile from the town centre, the national stud farm housed in the buildings of a 13th-century Cistercian Abbey is open to visitors! There, you’ll be able to visit the stables and saddlery workshops. An iconic establishment!
