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 (translated as Passion and Peat), 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.Gavin de Beer, "Iktin", The Geographical Journal 126.2 (June 1960:160–167), p. 166.Dion, "Le problème des Cassitérides," Latomus 11 (1952:306-14)
Communes of Brière
The following communes are found in Brière La Chapelle-des-Marais Crossac Montoir-de-Bretagne Saint-André-des-Eaux, Loire-Atlantique 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 : , 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 Brière Regional Natural Park encompasses 17 communes (source: , 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
See also La Baule - Guérande Peninsula
References
External links tourist information