At the heart of the Loire-Atlantique department lies an exceptional territory: the Brière Regional Nature Park. At the heart of the park, the Grande Brière Mottière marshland covers 7,000 hectares and is the second largest marshland in France after the Camargue. This preserved natural area is composed of a labyrinth of canals, reed beds, peat bogs, islands and vast flood-meadows where a diverse range of wildlife thrives. It is not uncommon to come across herons, egrets, bearded reedlings, reed harriers or avocets. The Brière wetlands are also a stopover for many migratory birds. Bird-watchers will be delighted!
There are 700 kilometres of maintained paths, easily enough to satisfy your cravings for the great outdoors. On foot, on horseback, by bike and even by canoe, set off to explore the park and marshland, meet the locals and see some extraordinary sights. To learn more about the fauna and flora, join a guide aboard a chaland, a traditional flat-bottomed boat, for an unusual tour. And for a panoramic view of the marshland and its surroundings, climb up to the bell tower at the Church of Saint-Lyphard. You won't regret it!
Brière Regional Nature Park also possesses an unusual heritage feature: a large number of houses with thatched roofs. There are thought to be around 3,000 of them on the islands dotted about the park. Like on the picturesque island of Fédrun, which has only one road connecting it to the mainland, or in the typical and authentic village of Kerhinet.
Traditional trades like marshland farming, pottery and thatching are still thriving there today. Discover them during your visit!
