VIENNE RIVER

The 'Vienne' is one of the most important rivers in south-western France, a significant left tributary of the lower Loire. It supports numerous hydro-electric dams, and it is the main river of the Limousin region and also of the eastern part of the Poitou-Charentes region.
Two French ''départements'' are named after the Vienne river: the Haute-Vienne (87) in the Limousin region and the Vienne (86) in the Poitou-Charentes region.

Contents

Course

Course

The Vienne rises as a spring in the department of the Corrèze, at the foot of Mont Audouze, on the Plateau de Millevaches, near Peyrelevade. It then flows roughly west to the city of Limoges where it once played a major role in the famous Limoges porcelain industry. A little way after Limoges it takes a turn to the north. En route to its confluence with the Loire, the Vienne is joined by the rivers Creuse and Clain. Finally, after a journey of approximately 390km it reaches the Loire at Candes-Saint-Martin in the department of Indre-et-Loire.
The Vienne flows through the following ''départements'' and towns:

★ Corrèze: Peyrelevade

★ Creuse

★ Haute-Vienne: Eymoutiers, Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, Limoges, Aixe-sur-Vienne, Saint-Junien

★ Charente: Chabanais, Confolens

★ Vienne: L'Isle-Jourdain, Lussac-les-Châteaux, Chauvigny, Châtellerault

★ Indre-et-Loire: L'Île-Bouchard, Chinon
'Tributaries include:'

★ The Creuse, which joins the Vienne north of Châtellerault

★ The Clain, which flows through the city of Poitiers, and joins the Vienne in Châtellerault.