BRESSE, a province of France, bounded on the
north by Burgundy and the Franche Comte; on the
east, by Savoy; on the south, by Viennois; on the west,
by the principality of Dombes and the Somme. It is
40 miles from north to south, and 23 from east to west.
It is fertile in corn and hemp, has fine pastures, and
several lakes with plenty of fish. It is divided into the
higher and lower; the first is on the side of Bourges,
and the second towards St Trivier and the river Somme.
The French got possession of it in 1601. The princi-
pal places are Bourgen, Bresse, Montluet, Pont de
Vaux, and Coligny.