CREUSE, a department of central France, comprising the greater portion of the old province of Marche, together with portions of Berry, Bourbonnais, Auvergne, Limousin and Poitou. Area, 2,164 sq.m. Pop. (1931) 207,882. It is bounded north by the departments of Indre and Cher, east by Allier and Puy-de Dome, south by Correze and west by Haute-Vienne. It lies on the north-west border of the Plateau Central and the highest land is in the south-east where some heights exceed 3,00o ft. i The principal river is the Crouse, which rises on the border of Correze, and passes through the department, receiving the Petite Creuse from the right, and afterwards flowing on to join the Vienne. The valleys of the head-streams of the Cher and of its tributary the Tardes, occupy the eastern side; those of the heads of the Vienne and its tributary the Thaurion, and of the Gartempe joining the Creuse, are in the west of the department. These rivers have entrenched themselves along lines of weakness and have dissected the plateau of crystalline schists and intrusive granites into blocks which occupy the northern half of the de partment. Thin soil and a cold, damp climate limit activities on these moorlands to sheep-breeding, with cattle-rearing in more sheltered parts. Agriculture is confined to the valleys, especially where they widen out in the extreme north, but is much handi capped by the scarcity of labour due to emigration. The produce of cereals, chiefly rye, wheat, oats and buckwheat, is not sufficient for home consumption. The chestnut abounds in the north and west ; hemp and potatoes are also grown.
Coal is mined in the basin of Ahun. Evaux, in the east, has thermal springs and remains of Roman baths. There are manu factories of carpets and hangings, dyeworks at Aubusson and Felletin, also saw-mills and manufactures of wooden shoes and hats. The Orleans railway line from Montlucon to Perigueux traverses Creuse from east to west. It is divided into the two arrondissements of Gueret and Aubusson, with 25 cantons and 266 communes. With Haute-Vienne, Creuse forms the diocese of Limoges, where also is its court of appeal. It forms part of the academie (educational division) of Clermont and of the re gion of the XII. Army Corps. The principal towns are Gueret and Aubusson. La Souterraine, Chambon-sur-Voueize and Bene vent-l'Abbaye possess fine churches of the 12th century. At Mou tier-d'Ahun there is a church, which has survived from a Bene dictine abbey. The nave of the 15th century with a fine portal, and the choir with its carved stalls of the 17th century, are of con siderable interest. The small industrial town of Bourganeuf has remains of a priory.