Vienne

Vienne is an administrative territory in western France that covers wide landscapes with fields, forests and the gentle hills of Poitou. The department divides into three main districts, each showing its own mix of rural villages and small market towns.

The department came into being in March 1790 during the French Revolution, when royal provinces were replaced with uniform administrative units. Its territory was formed mainly from parts of old Poitou, with smaller sections added from neighboring regions.

The department maintains its administrative heritage through 265 communes and 19 cantons, reflecting the traditional French system of local governance.

Poitiers serves as the capital and main transport hub, with high-speed trains linking the area to Paris and other major French cities. The A10 motorway crosses the department from north to south, offering direct access to key towns.

The name comes from the river that flows through the entire territory and eventually joins the Loire. The department today includes over two hundred fifty communes that continue to maintain their local traditions and markets even in modern times.

Location: Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Inception: March 4, 1790

Capital city: Poitiers

Reference: 86

Shares border with: Charente, Deux-Sèvres, Haute-Vienne, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Maine-et-Loire

Address: Vienne, France

Website: http://vienne.pref.gouv.fr

GPS coordinates: 46.58139,0.34056

Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:27