Moulins a town steeped in art and history

Moulins, a town steeped in Art and History

In the heart of a peaceful and fertile land on the banks of the River Allier, the town of Moulins gradually grew to become, in the 15th century, the capital of the Bourbonnais region, which was, at that time, the largest duchy of France.

Its national significance has faded over time, but it has preserved from this period a certain art of gracious living and taste for refinement. In particular, it has preserved many reminders of its former splendour: the renowned triptych of the Madonna and Child by the Master of Moulins, the “Mal Coiffée” castle and former home of the Dukes of Bourbon, the Italian Renaissance pavilion of Anne of Beaujeu and its historic city centre with numerous old houses in polychrome brick. There are also two new cultural centres worth visiting, the Centre d’Illustration and the Centre National du Costume de Scene et de la Scénographie, which confirm the town’s policy of consolidating its position as a town rich in Art and History.

Guided tours of the historic centre are available, the Mariniers district (former fisherman’s district) the Jacquemart clock tower and the Chapelle de la Visitation…

Moulins Tourist Office : +33 (0) 4 70 44 14 14 - www.pays-bourbon.com

Maison du Patrimoine (Heritage centre) : +33 (0) 4 70 48 01 33

>Find out more...

The Centre national du costume de scène (national centre for stage costumes)

The CNCS (National Theatre Costume Centre) opened in July 2006 and has already welcomed nearly 50,000 visitors. After an inaugural exhibition entitled “Bêtes de scène” in honour of the local poet Théodore de Banville, a second exhibition entitled “J’aime les militaires” presented a collection of costumes inspired by military uniforms until 13th May 2007.

Then the soldiers retreated to make way for one of the greatest French fashion designers, Christian Lacroix. The designer, who is also president of the CNCS, has created wonders for the stage for more than 20 years: French cancan dresses, oriental outfits and designer tutus. The exhibition entitled “Christian Lacroix en scene” (Christian Lacroix on stage) presented his creations for more than 25 ballets, plays and operas from New York to Vienna and Brussels to Innsbruck. Costumes created for singing tours and parties, drawings, photos and videos were also presented. Christian Lacroix himself organised the displays of one of the exhibition.

Each exhibition at the CNCS has educational workshops designed to promote professions linked to the performing arts. These activities are organised during the school year or holidays.

Next exhibition : “As flowers go by, on garden stages” from 6 th December 2008 to 19 th April 2009.

Tel : +33 (0) 4 70 20 76 20 - www.cncs.fr

> Find out more...

Le Centre de l’Illustration

Opened at the end of 2005, the Illustration Centre organises a series of temporary exhibitions and offers children the possibility of trying their hand at an art form that has been part of their daily life since childhood. Children’s illustration has become a cultural heritage in its own right and is treated as such by the Conseil Général which has acquired more than 380 works created by 23 illustrators.
Exhibition : "A la lettre" from 25th october 2008 to march 2009. This exhibition is dedicated to the singular relationship between the letter and the image. Works of artists as Georges Lemoine or Anne Bertier...

Tel : +33 (0) 4 70 35 72 58 - www.centre-illustration.fr

> Find out more...

Anne de Beaujeu Museum

The Anne de Beaujeu Museum, named after the eldest daughter of Louis XI, is located in part of the former castle of the Dukes of Bourbon.
The permanent collections are organised around several themes: paintings donated by the Cadier family, who served the Dukes of Bourbon, Moulins ceramics, once a local industry, medieval Bourbonnais sculpture created by renowned artists and 19th century academic paintings by Meissonnier, Laurens, Outin (a local painter), Merson and Rochegrosse. There is also a section devoted to sacred paintings from the Middle Ages and a room dedicated to prehistoric objects with many fine examples from the Châtelperronian period. This is a living museum offering artistic and educational workshops, a specialised library and two or three prestigious temporary exhibitions a year.

Information : +33 (0) 470 20 48 47 - http://musee-anne-de-beaujeu.cg03.fr

> Find out more...

The triptyque du Maître de Moulins

This masterpiece, painted around 1500, is one if the most important Gothic paintings in France.
The three panels of the triptych, which were once separated, were reunited in the 19th century. Since then, the mystery surrounding the identity of the artist has been a constant source of speculation*…
The closed triptych has, on the outer panels, a painting of the Annunciation in grisaille. The inside depicts the Madonna and Child. The two lateral panels contain portraits of the patrons of the work: on the left Peter II of Bourbon and on the right his wife the Duchess Anne of Bourbon, daughter of Louis XI, and their daughter Suzanne.
Classified a Historic Monument in 1898, this oil on wood painting (1.90 x 3.30 metres) is part of the treasure of Notre Dame cathedral in Moulins and is visible all year round. The work, which recently “celebrated” its 500th birthday, is remarkably well-preserved.

* According to a recent study by Albert Châtelet, the triptych could be attributed to Jean Prévost, a late 16th century painter from Lyon.

> Find out more...

Trésors de la Visitation

On the brink of extinction, the fiefdom of the Visitandine order wanted to leave to Posterity the formidable cultural and artistic treasures of its community. Opened in 1992, Regard sur la Visitation has become, thanks to the enthusiasm of one man, Gérard Picaud, a unique collection of gilt work, silk embroideries and religious masterpieces. Of the thousands of works created by these artistic nuns, and also some of the leading goldsmiths and jewellers of the day, around 800 pieces were displayed until now in the Musée Bourbonnais, located on the place de l’Ancien-Palais.

Now, a new exhibition area inside the Hôtel de Moret is devoted to the “Treasures of the Visitation” (entry is free). Around one hundred of the most beautiful pieces of the collection can be viewed there: devotional objects, ceremonial objects, royal and more modest religious offerings.

Tel : +33 (0) 4 70 44 39 03 - http://moulins.visitation.free.fr

> Exhibition
> Chapel

Bourbonrama

A combination of road book and story book, cultural visit and treasure hunt for young and old alike, Bourbonrama is an original way to discover the Pays Bourbon. The Bourbon dynasty, Romanesque art and natural beauty (pastureland, the Sologne, the River Allier and its ornithological reserve) are revealed through five itineraries from 60 to 90 km long based on a story punctuated with adventures and simple riddles. Each story links the saga of the House of Bourbon with the heritage it passed on to the Bourbonnais region, around a central theme: “Religious heritage” starting at the Cluniac site of Souvigny, “Fortresses, tales and legends” starting in Bourbon-l’Archambault, “Bourbons, past and present” around Souvigny and Besson and, starting in Moulins, “The golden age of the Dukes of Bourbon” based on art and political power, including visits of the châteaux of Avrilly and Riau. Each itinerary starts with a visit of the main sites in the departure town (the fortress at Bourbon l’Archambault, the priory at Souvigny, the historic centre or museums at Moulins, etc.) and then winds from village to village along historic or secret routes to castles, fortified farms, manor houses and through changing landscapes. Guide books are on sale in the tourist offices and participants can also listen along the route to 50 MP3 audio scenes that can be downloaded free from the web and at numerous points in the region. MP3 players are available for hire at tourist offices. A special card available at the different starting points entitles visitors to numerous reductions on visits, certain leisure activities and in restaurants.

Moulins Tourist Office : +33 (0) 4 70 44 14 14 - www.bourbonrama.fr

> back