There are 3 arrondissements in the Vienne department. The French departments, and in other countries, are divided into arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts (in some cases, as boroughs). The capital of an arrondissement is called a subprefecture.
If the prefecture (capital) of the department is in an arrondissement, that prefecture is the capital of the arrondissement, acting both as a prefecture and as a subprefecture.
Arrondissements are further divided into communes.
The arrondissements of Vienne are:
History
Since its creation, the Vienne department has had some changes: 1790 : creation of the Vienne department with six districts: Châtellerault, Civray, Loudun, Lusignan, Montmorillon and Poitiers. Poitiers was the capital of the department. 1800 : creation of the arrondissements: Châtellerault, Civray, Loudun, Montmorillon and Poitiers; Lusignan was left out. 1926 : the arrondissements Civray and Loudun were eliminated.