Vienne (river)

The **Vienne** () is one of the most important rivers in southwestern France, a main left tributary of the lower Loire river. It supports numerous hydroelectric dams.

It flows through the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Centre-Val de Loire regions, and two French *départements* are named after the Vienne: the Haute-Vienne (87) and the Vienne (86).

## Geography
The Vienne river has a length of  and a drainage basin with an area of approximately .

### Course
The Vienne river starts in the department of the Corrèze, at the foot of *Mont Audouze*, on the *Plateau de Millevaches*, in the *commune* of Millevaches, at an elevation of about .

It then flows roughly west to the city of Limoges where its water was used in the famous Limoges porcelain industry. A little way after Limoges it takes a turn to the north.

Finally, the river flows into the Loire river, on the left side, in the *commune* Candes-Saint-Martin.

The Vienne flows through 6 departments and 96 *communes*, in 2 regions:

**Average monthly discharge (m3/s) at Nouâtre (1958 - 2017)**

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## Gallery

File:Source de la Vienne.JPG|The source of Vienne near Saint-Setiers.
File:Vienne near Peyrelevade 02.JPG|The Vienne near Peyrelevade.
Ville de Chinon rive gauche.JPG|The Vienne in Chinon.
File:Vienne River at Aixe-sur-Vienne (Haute-Vienne, Fr).JPG|The Vienne in Aixe-sur-Vienne (Haute-Vienne).
File:Confluent Vienne-Loire.jpg|Confluence with the Loire river, the Vienne in front.

## Related pages
* List of rivers of France

## References
## Other websites
* Banque Hydro - Station L7000610 - La Vienne à Nouâtre