Brière 3710153 163458114 2007-10-10T00:46:55Z SmackBot 433328 Standard headings &/or gen fixes. [[Image:Parc naturel régional de la Brière.svg|100px|right]] '''Brière''' ('''Ar Briwer''' in [[Breton language|Breton]]) is the [[marsh]] area to the north of the [[Loire River|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 marsh]]es 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 [[boat]]s called [[chaland]]s. Cottages are a common sight in the area, with around 3000 [[thatched]] roof [[cottage]]s dotted throughout the area. == Communes of Brière == [[Image:Brière canal by nk.JPG|thumb|300px|right|Brière]] The following communes are found in Brière * [[La Chapelle-des-Marais]] * [[Crossac]] * [[Montoir-de-Bretagne]] * [[Saint-André-des-Eaux (Loire-Atlantique)|Saint-André-des-Eaux]] * [[Saint-Joachim (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 : [http://www.parc-naturel-briere.fr/fileadmin/template/briere/pdf/charte_cartes_schemas.pdf], 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 (Loire-Atlantique)|Saint-André-des-Eaux]] * [[Saint-Joachim (Loire-Atlantique)|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 : [http://www.parc-naturel-briere.fr/fileadmin/template/briere/pdf/charte_parc.pdf], pdf file) : * [[Assérac]] * [[La Baule-Escoublac]] * [[La Chapelle-des-Marais]] * [[Crossac]] * [[Donges]] * [[Guérande]] * [[Herbignac]] * [[Missillac]] * [[Montoir-de-Bretagne]] * [[Saint-André-des-Eaux (Loire-Atlantique)|Saint-André-des-Eaux]] * [[Saint-Joachim (Loire-Atlantique)|Saint-Joachim]] * [[Saint-Lyphard]] * [[Saint-Malo-de-Guersac]] * [[Saint-Molf]] * [[Saint-Nazaire]] * [[Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne]] * [[Trignac]] ==External links== *[http://www.parc-naturel-briere.fr/ tourist information] {{coor title dm|47|23|N|2|12|W}} [[Category:Marshes]] [[de:La Brière]] [[fr:Brière]]