Brie
Encyclopedia
Brie is a historic region of France
most famous for its dairy products, especially Brie cheese. It was once divided into two sections ruled by different feudal lords: the western Brie française, corresponding roughly to the modern department of Seine-et-Marne
in the Île-de-France
region
; the eastern Brie champenoise, forming a portion of the modern department of Marne
in the historic region of Champagne
(part of modern-day Champagne-Ardenne
); and the northern Brie pouilleuse, forming part of the modern department of Aisne
in Picardie
.
The Brie forms a plateau with few eminences, varying in altitude between 300 and 500 feet in the west, and between 500 and 650 feet in the east. Its scenery is varied by forests of some size—the chief being the Forêt de Senart, the Forêt de Crécy, and the Forêt d'Armainvilliers. The surface soil is clay in which are embedded fragments of siliceous sandstone, used for millstones and constructional purposes; the subsoil is limestone. The Marne and its tributaries the Grand Morin
and the Petit Morin
are the chief rivers, but the region is not abundantly watered and the rainfall is only between 20 and 24 inches.
Main towns:
Main rivers:
Main forests:
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
most famous for its dairy products, especially Brie cheese. It was once divided into two sections ruled by different feudal lords: the western Brie française, corresponding roughly to the modern department of Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne is a French department, named after the Seine and Marne rivers, and located in the Île-de-France region.- History:Seine-et-Marne is one of the original 83 departments, created on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution in application of the law of December 22, 1789...
in the Île-de-France
Île-de-France (région)
Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
; the eastern Brie champenoise, forming a portion of the modern department of Marne
Marne
Marne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
in the historic region of Champagne
Champagne (province)
The Champagne wine region is a historic province within the Champagne administrative province in the northeast of France. The area is best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's name...
(part of modern-day Champagne-Ardenne
Champagne-Ardenne
Champagne-Ardenne is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northeast of the country, bordering Belgium, and consists of four departments: Aube, Ardennes, Haute-Marne, and Marne. The region is famous for its sparkling white wine . Its rivers, most of which flow west, include the...
); and the northern Brie pouilleuse, forming part of the modern department of Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
in Picardie
Picardie
Picardy is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northern part of France.-History:The historical province of Picardy stretched from north of Noyon to Calais, via the whole of the Somme department and the north of the Aisne department...
.
The Brie forms a plateau with few eminences, varying in altitude between 300 and 500 feet in the west, and between 500 and 650 feet in the east. Its scenery is varied by forests of some size—the chief being the Forêt de Senart, the Forêt de Crécy, and the Forêt d'Armainvilliers. The surface soil is clay in which are embedded fragments of siliceous sandstone, used for millstones and constructional purposes; the subsoil is limestone. The Marne and its tributaries the Grand Morin
Grand Morin
The Grand Morin is a 118 km long river in France, left tributary of the Marne. Its source is near the village of Lachy. Its course crosses the departments of Marne and Seine-et-Marne...
and the Petit Morin
Petit Morin
The Petit Morin is a 86 km long river in France, left tributary of the Marne. Its source is in the commune Val-des-Marais. Its course crosses the departments of Marne, Aisne and Seine-et-Marne...
are the chief rivers, but the region is not abundantly watered and the rainfall is only between 20 and 24 inches.
Main towns:
- Brie-Comte-RobertBrie-Comte-RobertBrie-Comte-Robert is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.Brie-Comte-Robert is on the edge of the plain of Brie and was formerly the capital of the Brie française....
- Château-ThierryChâteau-ThierryChâteau-Thierry is a commune in northern France about east-northeast of Paris. It is a sub-prefecture of the Aisne department in Picardy.-History:...
- CoulommiersCoulommiersCoulommiers is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France in north-central France.It is also the name of a cheese of the Brie family produced in and around that city.-Twin towns:Coulommiers was twinned with Leighton Buzzard in 1958...
- Crécy-la-ChapelleCrécy-la-ChapelleCrécy-la-Chapelle is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
- La Ferté-GaucherLa Ferté-GaucherLa Ferté-Gaucher is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
- MeauxMeauxMeaux is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement...
- NangisNangisNangis is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
- MelunMelunMelun is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Located in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris, Melun is the capital of the department, as the seat of an arrondissement...
- ProvinsProvinsProvins is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.Provins, a town of medieval fairs, became a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 2001.-Administration:...
Main rivers:
- Marne
- Grand MorinGrand MorinThe Grand Morin is a 118 km long river in France, left tributary of the Marne. Its source is near the village of Lachy. Its course crosses the departments of Marne and Seine-et-Marne...
- Petit MorinPetit MorinThe Petit Morin is a 86 km long river in France, left tributary of the Marne. Its source is in the commune Val-des-Marais. Its course crosses the departments of Marne, Aisne and Seine-et-Marne...
Main forests:
- Forêt d'Armainvilliers
- Forêt de Crécy
- Forêt de Ferrières
- Forêt de Notre-Dame
- Forêt de Sénart
- Forêt de Villefermoy