Lorient
One of the island's oldest settlements, on the north coast with a reef-backed beach.
Updated 3 September 2026
Lorient on the north coast is where French settlers established themselves in the seventeenth century and it is among the oldest inhabited parts of the island: a church, a walled cemetery of white tombs decorated with conch shells and flowers, a school, a few shops, and a beach behind a reef that keeps the water calm at one end and lets surf through at the other.
The main sights
- The cemetery - white tombs decorated with shells and flowers.
- The church - the building at the centre of the old settlement.
- The reef-backed beach - calm at one end, surf at the other.
- The settlement history - among the first French ground on the island.
When to go
December to April is the dry high season. Surf on the beach is best in winter. June to November is the hurricane season.
Good to know
It is a working village and not laid out for visitors. Parking near the beach is limited. The cemetery is in use and should be treated accordingly.
Nearby
Saint-Jean is west, and Grand Cul-de-Sac is east.
What to pack for Lorient
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Quick-dry clothing - Board shorts or synthetics that shrug off spray and dry fast. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Secure water shoes or reef boots - Grip on slippery launches and protection on rocky shores. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links - if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All packing kitsPlan your trip
Where to start if Lorient is going on the list.
Booking links on this page are affiliate links - if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we write about a place.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
