Brière


Brière is the marsh area north of the Loire estuary in France, near its mouth on the Atlantic Ocean. The residents of Brière are called Briérons. 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 and the Lac de Grand-Lieu in the south. Peat used to be harvested here.
The Brière territory extends over, including of humid zone, at the heart of which lies the Grande Brière Mottière which encompasses 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.
Alphonse de Chateaubriant's prize-winning novel La Brière, 1923, is set in the area and describes its traditions and culture.
It has been suggested that the small islands of the Brière, now joined by silt, could have been the location of the Cassiterides - islands mentioned in antiquity as the Phoenician source of tin.

Communes of Brière

The following communes are found in Brière
Traditionally, 21 communes are considered part of Brière :
The Brière Regional Natural Park encompasses 17 communes