Vienne River

The Vienne river

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The Vienne river is one of the most important rivers in SW France. It supports numerous hydro-electric dams, it is a significant tributary of the lower Loire and it is the main river of the Limousin region and also of the eastern part of the Poitou-Charentes region.

Related Topics:
France - Hydro-electric - Loire - Limousin - Poitou-Charentes

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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.

Related Topics:
Département - Haute-Vienne - Vienne

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Course

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The Vienne rises as a spring in the department of the Corrèze, at the foot of Mont Audouze, on the Plateau de Millevaches. It then flows roughly south and 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 it's confluence with the Loire, the Vienne is joined by the rivers Gartempe, 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.

Related Topics:
Corrèze - Mont Audouze - Plateau de Millevaches - Limoges - Creuse - Clain - Candes-Saint-Martin - Indre-et-Loire

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Towns and cities along the river include:

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• Limoges
• Châtellerault
• Chinon

Tributaries include:

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