Bree

Bree is a fictional town in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, serving as the principal settlement of Bree-land in the region of Eriador. It lies along the Great East Road at a crossroads between the Shire and the lands to the east, with the Brandywine River nearby. The town functions as a commercial and logistical hub for travelers moving along major routes through the western part of Middle-earth.

The inhabitants are known as Bree-men or Bree-landers, a people descended from the North-kingdom who have long settled the area and later mingled with other settlers. They are described as practical, sturdy, and reasonably wary of outsiders, yet capable of hospitality. The common speech in Bree is Westron, with local dialects spoken by residents.

The Prancing Pony inn is the best-known landmark in Bree, operated for many years by Barliman Butterbur. It serves as a central social and commercial site for locals and travelers alike. In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo, Sam, and Pippin stay at the inn and meet Strider there, marking Bree as the point where the hobbits’ journey toward Rivendell begins in earnest.

In-universe, Bree's residents maintain a cautious stance toward outsiders while recognizing the town's role as a frequent waypoint on the Great East Road. Its position makes Bree a nexus for interactions among the Shire, the Rangers, and the broader lands of Eriador, a theme that recurs in the narrative of the Ring quest.

There is also a real-world place named Bree in Belgium (the municipality of Bree, in Limburg Province). The name is used for other places and entities outside Tolkien's fiction as well.