The Creuse (French pronunciation: [kʁøz] ⓘ; Occitan: Cruesa) is a 263-kilometre (163 mi) long river in western France, a tributary of the Vienne.

[1] Its source is in the Plateau de Millevaches, a north-western extension of the Massif Central.

The Creuse valley is the setting for paintings by the so-called Crozant School, including works by Armand Guillaumin and a series of vivid landscapes by the Bordeaux artist Alfred Smith.

Three are in the Creuse département with one at Chambon-Sainte-Croix above Anzême, one at Les Chezelles near Le Bourg-d'Hem and one at L'Âge upstream of La Celle-Dunoise.

[citation needed] The lakes created by the dams are popular tourist destinations and several have artificial beaches and leisure facilities.