VIENNE, a department of west-central France, formed in 1790 out of Poitou (four-fifths of its present area), Touraine (one-seventh) and Berry, and bounded by Deux-Sevres on the west, Charente on the south, Haute-Vienne on the south-east, Indre on the east, Indre-et-Loire on the north-east and north and Maine-et-Loire on the north-west. Pop. (1931), 303,072. Area, 2,711 sq.m. The department includes the basin of the Vienne from the point at which it emerges from the Plateau Central down to its junction with the Creuse, while its extreme south west corner includes a small part of the course of the Charente. It thus contains the famous gate of Poitou (Seuil du Poitou) be tween the Plateau Central and the Gatine, the historic south-west entry into the Paris basin. The winter average temperature is to F, the summer average temperature being 66° to 68°. The prevailing winds are from the south-west and west. The annual rainfall is 24 in. in the north to 32 in. in the south.
Wheat, oats and barley are the principal cereals grown, other important crops being lucerne, sainfoin, clover, mangel-wurzels and potatoes. Some colza and hemp are grown. The district of
Poitiers grows good red wine, and the white wine of Trois Moutiers near Loudun is well known. The breeding of live stock is fairly active. Poitou is famous for its mules, and the geese and turkeys of the department are highly esteemed. Among the fruit trees are the chestnut, walnut and almond. In the forests a small number of wild boars and other wild game survives. Freestone is quarried. There are mineral springs at La Roche Posay. The most important industrial establishments are the national arms manufactory at Chatellerault and the cutlery works near that town. The capital of Vienne is Poitiers, and the department is divided into 3 arrondissements (Poitiers, Chatel lerault, Montmorillon), 31 cantons and 30o communes. The chief towns are Poitiers, Chatellerault, Loudun, Montmorillon and Chauvigny (qq.v.). Sanxay has ruins of a theatre and other Gallo Roman remains near by. Vienne is rich in megalithic monuments.