At the limit of Berry (departments of Indre and Cher), and at the edge of the Poitou, Limousin and Touraine regions, the Brenne parc naturel régional covers some 160 000 ha where we find 30 000 inhabitants. It comprises a group of varied natural areas of which the most characteristic is the region of lakes.

The lakes of Brenne : a real mosaic of habitat types, where water, woodland, heaths and meadows (sometimes dominated by the red sandstone "buttons") mix to provide for a particularly ecologically rich area. The Brenne is one of Frances' most important inland wetlands.

 

The "Petite Brenne" and the Boichaut hedgerows : there are still a few man- made lakes here but the area is far more undulating and extensively covered with forest, it's a countryside of hedge-rimmed fields, used for sheep rearing.

The Creuse and Anglin valleys : characterized downstream of Le Blanc (on the Creuse) and Ingrandes (on the Anglin) by the presence of limestone cliffs, further upstream the valleys are more open, their sloping sides wooded. Along their length are châteaux, abbeys and water mills.

 

Around Le Blanc : the richer soils here are favourable for cereals, with stands of fruit trees (walnut, cherry...), with vineyards and market gardens here and there. This is the area of "appellation d'origine controlée" (a sort of quality control label) of the pouligny-saint-pierre goat's cheese.

 

 

 

An amazing biological diversity is responsible for an abundance of wildlife of which the best known are the birds : Purple heron, Black-necked grebe, wetland warblers, Bittern, Marsh harrier, Whiskered tern, Short-toed eagle... not to forget the many species of duck to be found on the lakes. The Brenne is also France's most important site for the European Pond Tortoise, a freshwater tortoise weighing up to 1 kg (2 lbs).

Within the Parc there are very many species of insect, especilly dragonflies. Within the forests are Red and Roe deer, and Wild boar, in large numbers. No less rich, the plant life of Brenne, from orchids to centuries old oaks, vast reedbeds to heaths, may still hold many surprises.

 

 

The first lakes were built in the Middle Ages, many emptied during the Revolution, it isn't until the 20th century, between the wars, that the lakes took on their present appearance and modern fish-farming developed. Today there are some 1400 lakes in the Brenne (most private), which makes it one of the most important areas of lakes in France. The lakes are inter-connected in series.

 

 

 

The Brenne's lake are traditionally used for fish-farming. 2 000 metric tons of fish are produced each year ; 65% of this is carp, most of which is exported. Fishing the lakes Anytime between October and March. To be fished a lake is partially emptied, so that the only water remaining is in a deeper section next to the sluice. The fish are than collected together using a large net, lifted out by hand net and sorted, weighed and placed in oxygenated tanks on the lorries of fish traders.

 

The first lakes to be emptied, and thus fished, are those downstream, it then fills with the water emptying from the next lake up, and so on until the uppermost lake in the series, which is filled by rain water draining from the land around. The fishing of some lakes can be watched by the public, contact the "Maison du Parc" on 02 54 28 12 13 from mid-October onwards.

 

 

 

A traditinnal activity and part of Brenne's cultural heritage. The hunting of large animals (Red and Roe deer, Wild boar) occurs from September to March ; mid-August to he end of February is the wildfowl (mainly duck) season and smaller game of the open countryside is hunted between late September and the start of January.

 

 

 

A characteristic, traditional house of the area has one room on the ground floor with a loft above. The latter is entered via an external loft door, via an ever-present outside ladder. According to the needs of everyday life or farming activity, rooms and other buidings will have been added. The roofs, of two of four sides, often extensive and of flat tiles, are finished with hollow tiles and quick-lime.

 

Architecture of red sandstone occurs mainly in central Brenne. Traditional buildings are particularly well represented at Pré-Picault (Preuilly-la-Ville), Chatêau-Guillaume (Lignac), Le Peu and Gué-Martin (Tilly-, La Billarderie, Launeau, La Bergelière and La Boudinière (Pouligny-Saint-Pierre).