Les Hirondelles is within La Brenne, one of France’s 36 Parcs Naturel Régionaux. Known as the Region of a Thousand Lakes, La Brenne comprises over 1,400 small lakes, made during the Middle Ages for fish-farming. 

Today, it is an internationally important wetland wildlife habitat, harbouring many species of wild plants and animals, including the endangered European Pond Turtle, and providing excellent opportunities for bird-watching, angling, cycling and walking. The Etang Cistude at the Réserve Naturelle Cherine is the best place to see the rare cistude or European pond turtle.