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:
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/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 () of two cantons:
It is part of the intercommunality "Moulins Communauté" ().
Sister cities.
Moulins is twinned with:
Places of interest.
Some interesting places in Moulins are: