Moulins, Allier Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Moulins

Moulins Cathedral.

Coat of arms

Moulins

Location in France

Moulins

Location in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Country

Moulins Communauté

Area

8.61 km² (3.32 sq mi)

Population

(2014)

19,762

• Density

2,295.2/km² (5,945/sq mi)

Moulinois

• Summer (DST)

INSEE/Postal code

03190 /03000

Elevation

202–240 m (663–787 ft)
(avg. 221 m or 725 ft)

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.

Moulins is a town in central France. It's located in the Allier department, which is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Moulins is the capital city of the Allier department. It was also the historical capital of an old region called Bourbonnais.

Exploring Moulins' Past: A Brief History
Moulins' Location and Surroundings
- Distances to Major French Cities
- Moulins' Climate: What to Expect
Understanding Moulins' Population
How Moulins is Governed
- Moulins' Sister Cities Around the World
Cool Places to Visit in Moulins
Gallery
Famous People Connected to Moulins
Related Pages
See also

Exploring Moulins' Past: A Brief History

Moulins had its best times in the 1400s. This was when the powerful Dukes of Bourbon lived in the city. The city is located on the Allier river. The area around Moulins is still called the Bourbonnais because of the House of Bourbon.

Moulins became the capital of the Allier department on March 4, 1790. This happened when France created its departments.

During World War II, parts of France were under German control. The border between the German-controlled area and the part of France that was still somewhat independent (called Vichy France) ran right through Moulins.

Moulins' Location and Surroundings

Moulins is situated along the Allier river. Most of the city is on the eastern side of the river. The city covers an area of about 8.6 square kilometers (3.3 square miles). Its average height above sea level is 221 meters (725 feet). At the city hall, the height is 219 meters (718 feet).

Distances to Major French Cities

Moulins is located in central France. Here are the distances to some other important cities:

Paris, the capital of France - 298 km (185 mi)
Lyon, the regional capital - 204 km (127 mi)
Reims - 422 km (262 mi)
Bordeaux - 469 km (291 mi)
Toulouse - 470 km (292 mi)
Montpellier - 447 km (278 mi)
Strasbourg - 514 km (319 mi)
Nantes - 457 km (284 mi)
Marseille - 514 km (319 mi)

Moulins is surrounded by several other towns. These include Avermes, Yzeure, Toulon-sur-Allier, Bressolles, and Neuvy.

Moulins and its neighboring *communes*

Neuvy	Avermes
Neuvy		Yzeure
	Moulins

Bressolles		Toulon-sur-Allier

Moulins' Climate: What to Expect

Moulins has an Oceanic climate. This type of climate is known for having mild summers. It is classified as Cfb in the Köppen climate classification system.

Understanding Moulins' Population

The people who live in Moulins are called Moulinois (for men) and Moulinoises (for women) in French.

Moulins has a population of 19,762 people. This means there are about 2,295 inhabitants for every square kilometer (5,944 per square mile).

Evolution of the population in Moulins

How Moulins is Governed

Moulins has been the prefecture (the main city for government) of the Allier department since 1800. It is also the capital of the arrondissement (a type of district) of Moulins. The city is also the administrative center for two cantons:

Moulins-1: This canton includes 6 smaller towns and part of Moulins. In 2014, it had 18,030 inhabitants.
Moulins-2: This canton includes 22 smaller towns and another part of Moulins. In 2014, it had 19,368 inhabitants.

Moulins is part of a group of towns that work together, called Moulins Communauté.

Moulins' Sister Cities Around the World

Moulins has special partnerships with two other cities in different countries. These are called sister cities:

Bad Vilbel, Germany
Montepulciano, Italy

Cool Places to Visit in Moulins

If you visit Moulins, here are some interesting places to see:

The Moulins Cathedral Basilica (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation de Moulins) is a beautiful Roman Catholic cathedral.
The Anne de Beaujeu Museum is an art museum where you can see many different artworks.
The National Center of Costume and Scenography (Centre national du Costume de scène) is a unique museum. It's all about stage costumes and the sets used in plays and shows.