La Brière in a few words
It was one of the first natural parks to be listed as a “Parc Naturel Régional” in 1970.
After the Camargue, it is the second largest marsh land in France with nearly 40.000 ha of peat, and waterways.
In the past widely exploited by man for fishing, hunting, peat cutting, grazing, for the reed used in thatching.
Thatched roofs are traditional in the area (e.g. Saint-Lyphard, Saint-André des Eaux, etc). The Brière gets its nickname of “Pays Noir” ie the Black Country from the colour of the peat.
The production of this major local resource subsequently went into decline with the increase in the importance of shipbuilding in neighbouring saint-Nazaire.
Nowadays la Brière is famous for the diversity of its wildlife, with 180 recorded species of birds, 72 of which nest locally.
A few tracks exist across the park but the easiest way to get around is by boat, locally called a “chaland”. During a boat trip you can meet ducks, herons, etc… You can also visit one of the little villages with thatched cottages like Kerhinet, situated between Guérande and Saint Lyphard.
Since 1970 la Brière has been protected by its status as a Regional Park.
