Brie

Related Category: French Political Geography

(brē), region, Marne and Seine-et-Marne depts., N France, E of Paris. Rich in wheat and cattle, it is famous for Brie cheese. The smaller section of the region (Brie française) forms part of the Île-de-France and is very fertile. There, many of the huge farms are fortresslike in their imposing architecture. Meaux, the former capital and major commercial center; Melun; and Château-Thierry are the chief towns. The former county of Meaux (E Brie) was combined (11th cent.) with that of Troyes to form the county (later province) of Champagne and Brie.