The Flore S645 is 57.7 meters long and displaced 1,043 tons when submerged.
The Daphne-class submarines were known for their acoustic silence, making them difficult to detect by sonar.
During its service life, the Flore completed over 19,000 hours of diving.
The Keroman base where the submarine is housed features concrete walls up to 7 meters thick, designed to withstand Allied bombing.
The internal conditions inside the submarine were cramped, with a crew of 45 sharing very limited bunk and personal space.
The submarine is mounted on a cradle above ground, allowing visitors to walk underneath the hull to inspect the propulsion screws.
The Lorient base remained in use by the French Navy long after the German occupation ended, remaining active until the 1990s.
The Flore S645 is a preserved Daphne-class attack submarine located within the Keroman Submarine Base in Lorient. The vessel served in the French Navy from 1963 to 1989, patrolling the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Visitors walk through the authentic, non-modified hull, accessing compartments including the torpedo room, engine room, and command center. The site includes a dedicated museum documenting the history of the Keroman base, which was constructed by Nazi Germany during World War II. It features interactive displays explaining the life and technical constraints of submariners during the Cold War. The submarine remains dry-docked on land, allowing for accessibility to the interior spaces. It is situated on the harbor front of the Lorient submarine pens, one of the largest such installations built during the war. The exhibition focuses on both the human experience of the crew and the strategic importance of the Lorient base.
From the ground level directly in front of the bow, looking up at the hull.
Bring a light sweater as the interior temperature of the submarine is kept consistently cool.
Watch your head when passing through the circular bulkhead hatches between compartments.
Use the provided audioguides to better understand the technical labels in the command room.
Do not attempt to touch the delicate control panels or levers in the command center.
Open daily, but occasionally closes for annual maintenance in the winter months.
Avoid wearing skirts or dresses due to steep, narrow ladders; flat, closed-toe footwear is required for safety.
