LORIENT

maritime town, Morbihan dpartement, Bretagne region, western France, southeast of Quimper, and west-southwest of Paris, situated on the right bank of the Scorff River at its confluence with the Blavet on the Bay of Biscay. Almost completely destroyed by bombing in 1944, the town was rebuilt after World War II. The fishing port of Kroman (one of the most important in France), to the south of the town, sends special rail deliveries to Paris and Bordeaux. Nearby, the submarine base built by the Germans during World War II is used for French submarines. The arsenal, on the banks of the Scorff, specializes in the construction of prefabricated naval vessels. The commercial and naval ports are of minor national importance. Main industries include textiles, furniture, paint production, fish canning, and the manufacture of navigational equipment for pleasure craft. The medieval hamlet of Blavet took the name of Port-Louis when a citadel was built on the site under Louis XIII, king of France (reigned 161043). In 1664, Louis XIV (reigned 16431715) authorized a merchant company to settle there; and the town was named L'Orient in reference to the Eastern countries with which it traded. The town prospered and was further enlarged when another major trading company settled there in 1719. After France lost its possessions in India, commerce declined. Louis XVI (reigned 177492) bought the port and established a royal arsenal there. Pop. (1990) 59,271.