A palynostratigraphic zonation from the Upper Miocene to the Lower Villafranchian of the Bresse Basin, France, is established. Hundred and seventy six of a total of 531 samples contain rich assemblages dominated by pollen of trees, ferns and aquatic plants. Five palynological zones are being defined using the percent variations of the allochtonous pollen of the Pinaceae and of the autochtonous pollen of the Taxodiaceae-Cupressaceae. The anemophile pollen of the Pinaceae originating from the Jura mountains and the Massif central predominated during the time intervals in which most of the Bresse region was inondated. On the other hand, the autochtonous pollen of the Taxodiaceae-Cupressaceae are more frequent during the intervale in which the region was emerged. Environmental interpretations are presented for each of the 5 palynological zones. Tentative correlations are being made between the Bresse Basin and the valley of the Rhone river for the Miocene and the Pliocene, and between the Bresse Basin, the Massif central and the Netherland for the Lower Villafranchian.