Moulins, Allier

**Moulins** is a _commune_ in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in central France.

It is the _préfecture_ (capital) of the department and the historical capital of the old province of _Bourbonnais_ (the Duchy of Bourbonnais).

## History

Moulins experienced its golden age in the 15th century, when the Dukes of Bourbon lived in the city on the Allier river. The region of the northern Massif Central where is Moulins is called the _Bourbonnais_ after the House of Bourbon.

Moulins became the capital of Allier on 4 March 1790 with the creation of the departments in France.

During the German occupation in the Second World War, the border between occupied France and the pro-German France (Vichy France) went through the midst of Moulins.

## Geography

Moulins is along the Allier river, mainly on the right (eastern) side of the river. It has an area of , and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .

The distances from Moulins to other cities are:
- Paris, the national capital - ;
- Lyon, the regional capital - ;
- Reims - ;
- Bordeaux - ;
- Toulouse - ;
- Montpellier - ;
- Strasbourg - ;
- Nantes - ;
- Marseille - .

Moulins is surrounded by the _communes_ Avermes, Yzeure, Toulon-sur-Allier, Bressolles and Neuvy.

### Climate

The climate of Moulins, in the Köppen climate classification, is **Cfb** - Oceanic climate with template summers.

## Population

The inhabitants of Moulins are known, in French, as _Moulinois_ (women: _Moulinoises_).

With a population of 19,762, Moulins has a population density of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>.

**Evolution of the population in Moulins**

## Administration

Moulins is the prefecture of the Allier department since 1800. It is also the capital of the _arrondissement_ of Moulins and the administrative centre () of two cantons:
- Moulins-1, formed by 6 _communes_ and part of Moulins, with 18,030 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.
- Moulins-2, formed by 22 _communes_ and part of Moulins, with 19,368 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.

It is part of the intercommunality _Moulins Communauté_ ().

### Sister cities

Moulins is twinned with:
- Bad Vilbel, Germany
- Montepulciano, Italy

## Places of interest

Some interesting places in Moulins are:
- The **Moulins Cathedral Basilica** (_Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation de Moulins_) is a Roman Catholic cathedral.
- The **Anne de Beaujeu Museum** is an art museum.
- The **National Center of Costume and Scenography** (_Centre national du Costume de scène_) is a museum dedicated to stage costumes and sets.

## People from or related to Moulins

- Coco Chanel, fashion designer, lived several years in Moulins.

## Related pages

- Arrondissements of the Allier department
- Communes of the Allier department

## Other websites

- City council website
- Local tourism website
- Le Bourbonnais

## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Moulins
- **image coat of arms**: Blason ville fr Moulins (Allier).svg
- **image**: Moulins - Perspective3.JPG
- **caption**: Moulins Cathedral.
- **arrondissement**: Moulins
- **intercommunality**: Moulins Communauté
- **mayor**: Pierre-André Périssol
- **term**: 2014-2020
- **elevation m**: 221
- **elevation min m**: 202
- **elevation max m**: 240
- **area km2**: 8.61
- **population demonym**: Moulinois
- **population**: 19762
- **population date**: 2014
- **insee**: 03190
- **postal code**: 03000
- **website**: [http://www.ville-moulins.fr/ www.ville-moulins.fr]