Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou, Touraine, and Berry.
Goat cheese making is an important industry of Vienne. The Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, a UNESCO world heritage site, is located in the Vienne. You can learn more about the many departments of France on wikipedia.