Brière Regional Natural Park, Regional natural park in Loire-Atlantique, France.
Brière Regional Natural Park is a large wetland area in Loire-Atlantique characterized by a network of interconnected channels and peaty soils, dotted with seven islands. These islands and surrounding areas contain traditional houses with thatched roofs that define the visual character of the place.
The area gained protected status in 1970, owing its existence to vast peat deposits that accumulated behind Loire River dikes. It developed into France's second-largest wetland ecosystem and remains a preserved record of the region's natural landscape evolution.
Local residents practice traditional ways of life tied to the water, such as steering flat-bottomed boats through channels and gathering reeds for roofing material. These customs remain visible in daily life and shape the character of the settlements, where people continue working by ancestral methods.
Visitors can best explore the area by boat, with trips departing from Rozé Port, and an observation tower offers sweeping views across the wetlands. The flat terrain and water network allow different routes depending on your interests and available time to discover the landscape.
The water in the park displays a striking optical effect at certain spots caused by methane gas rising from the peaty depths. This natural light phenomenon on the water surface becomes a rare and memorable sight for visitors to witness.
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