Plains of France

thumb|Map of France, with Bresse shaded red thumb|right|Typical Bresse farm house

French natural region

thumb|200px|The village of Usson on the edge of the Limagne plain The Limagne (; ) is a large plain in the Auvergne region of France in the valley of the Allier river, on the edge of the Massif Central. It mainly lies within the départements of Puy-de-Dôme, Allier and Haute-Loire. The term is sometimes used to include this, and three other less extensive plains, that lie along the valley of the Allier, in which case the first is known as Grande Limagne to distinguish it from the others. The name is derived from the Latin Lacus Magnus, or large lake.

thumb|upright=1.3|right|Approximative limits of Crau's biome area. thumb|270px|right|Crau stony plain The Crau is the ancient confluence of the Durance and Rhône, and constitutes their vast flat alluvial fan.