Moulins, Allier

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

Moulins

Moulins - Perspective3.JPG
Moulins Cathedral.
Coat of arms of Moulins
Administration
Country France
Region Auvergne
Department Allier
Arrondissement Moulins
Intercommunality Moulins Communauté
Mayor Pierre-André Périssol
(2014-2020)
Statistics
Elevation 202–240 m (663–787 ft)
(avg. 221 m/725 ft)
Land area1 8.61 km2 (3.32 sq mi)
Population2 19,762  (2014)
 - Density 2,295/km2 (5,940/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 03190/ 03000
Website www.ville-moulins.fr
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

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 8.6 km2 (3.3 sq mi),[1] and its average altitude is 221 m (725 ft); at the city hall, the altitude is 219 m (719 ft).[2]

The distances from Moulins to other cities are:

Moulins and its neighboring communes
 

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).[3]

With a population of 19,762,[4] Moulins has a population density of 2,295 inhabitants/km2.

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 (French: chef-lieu) of two cantons:

  • Moulins-1, formed by 6 communes and part of Moulins, with 18,030 inhabitants (2014).
  • Moulins-2, formed by 22 communes and part of Moulins, with 19,368 inhabitants (2014).

It is part of the intercommunality Moulins Communauté (French: Communauté d'agglomération Moulins Communauté).

Sister cities

Moulins is twinned with:[5]

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.

Gallery

People from or related to Moulins

Related pages

References

  1. "Commune de Moulins (03190)". Comparateur de territoire (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques - INSEE. Retrieved 21 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. "Moulins". Map-France.com. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  3. "Moulins (03000)" (in French). habitants.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  4. "Régions, départements, arrondissements, cantons et communes" (PDF). Populations légales 2014 (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques - INSEE. Retrieved 21 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. "Ville de Moulins - Nos Jumelages" (in French). Ville de Moulins. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

Other websites