Brie (region)

Brie is an agricultural and historical region to the east and southeast of Paris in the Île-de-France area, traditionally comprising a fertile plain used for cereal growing and dairy production. It is most widely known as the namesake and source region for Brie cheese.

The landscape is primarily low-lying agricultural land with market towns and chateaux; local towns serve as historical administrative and trade centers. Culinary identity-especially the production of Brie-style cheeses-has shaped the region’s reputation.

Historically the area was an important rural territory supplying Paris and developed distinctive local specialities and market towns over centuries.

Brie lies to the east of Paris within the modern Île-de-France region, largely in the department of Seine-et-Marne and adjacent communes.

• Cheese production: The region gives its name to a family of soft, ripened cheeses-most famously Brie de Meaux-which have long culinary and commercial history in the area.

What to See #

• Meaux: The town of Meaux, a historic market town east of Paris and the namesake of the well-known Brie cheese variety.
• Melun: The town of Melun, another historic center in the region and administrative town south-east of the Paris conurbation.