Brière
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[[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]]