Brière

Brière (Ar Briwer in [Breton language|Breton]]) is the marsh area to the north of the Loire estuary at its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean. The residents of Brière are called Brièrons. The Brière marsh area includes a vast area of humid zones stretching from the Gulf of Morbihan and the estuary of the Vilaine to the north, to the salt marshes of Guérande to the west to the estuary of the Loire River and the Lac de Grand-Lieu in the south. Peat used to be harvested here.

The Brière territory extends over 490 square kilometres, including 170 km² of humid zone, at the heart of which lies the Grande Brière Mottière which encompasses 70 km² and 21 communes.

It is rich in flora and fauna, and navigation is possible with boats called chalands.

Cottages are a common sight in the area, with around 3000 thatched roof cottages dotted throughout the area.

Communes of Brière

The following communes are found in Brière

• La Chapelle-des-Marais
• Crossac
• Montoir-de-Bretagne
• Saint-André-des-Eaux
• Saint-Joachim (the commune covering most of la Grande Brière)
• Saint-Lyphard
• Saint-Malo-de-Guersac
• Saint-Nazaire
• Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne
• Trignac

Traditionally, 21 communes are considered part of Brière (source : [1], pdf file) :

• La Baule-Escoublac
• Besné
• La Chapelle-des-Marais
• La Chapelle-Launay
• Crossac
• Donges
• Guérande
• Herbignac
• Missillac
• Montoir-de-Bretagne
• Prinquiau
• Pontchâteau
• Pornichet
• Saint-André-des-Eaux
• Saint-Joachim
• Saint-Lyphard
• Saint-Malo-de-Guersac
• Saint-Nazaire
• Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne
• Trignac
• La Turballe

The regional parc naturel of Brière claims that 17 communes make it up (source : [2], pdf file) :

• Assérac
• La Baule-Escoublac
• La Chapelle-des-Marais
• Crossac
• Donges
• Guérande
• Herbignac
• Missillac
• Montoir-de-Bretagne
• Saint-André-des-Eaux
• Saint-Joachim
• Saint-Lyphard
• Saint-Malo-de-Guersac
• Saint-Molf
• Saint-Nazaire
• Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne
• Trignac

External link

• tourist information