Musée Anne-de-Beaujeu

About the museum

The museum's history begins in 1842, when the city of Moulins founded a first municipal museum with paintings from the Revolutionary period, which was enriched by gifts and purchases. A fire in 1878 destroyed part of the collections. Meanwhile, the Société d’émulation du Bourbonnais, founded in 1845, had built up a major collection of art and archaeological objects from the region, and a departmental museum was created in 1863.

At the end of the 19th century, the collector Louis Mantin wanted to bring the municipal and departmental collections together in one place. By will, he bequeathed his residence, his collections and part of his fortune to enable the creation of a museum. The Musée Anne-de-Beaujeu opened its doors in 1910.

It occupies a pavilion built between 1498 and 1503 within the enclosure of the castle of the Dukes of Bourbon. It is considered one of the earliest examples of architecture inspired by the Italian Renaissance in France and is listed as a monument historique. The museum, now run by the Allier departmental council and labelled “Musée de France”, holds nearly 20,000 objects and works of art: regional archaeology, an Egyptian collection, medieval sculpture, paintings and decorative arts from Northern Europe, faience and cutlery from Moulins, and works from the 19th century. It also organises temporary exhibitions with loans from major museums.

Highlights

• Renaissance pavilion from 1498 to 1503, monument historique
• Egyptian collection with mummies, coffins and amulets
• Archaeological collection of the Allier, from the Palaeolithic to the Gallo-Roman period
• Medieval and Renaissance sculpture
• Paintings and decorative arts from Northern Europe of the 15th and 16th centuries
• Faience and cutlery from Moulins of the 18th century

Permanent exhibitions

• Collection égyptienne – Mummies, coffins, amulets, ushabtis and ceramics, restored with a research centre of the French museums, are presented in a dedicated space.
• Archéologie régionale – This collection, largely from finds made in the Allier in the 19th century, spans the Palaeolithic to the Gallo-Roman period.
• Les ducs de Bourbon et leur héritage – Models, architectural fragments and decorative elements show the influence of the Dukes of Bourbon in Moulins and the Bourbonnais.

Founded

1910

Operated by

Département de l'Allier

Director

Guennola Thivolle

Admission & discounts

Outside temporary exhibition periods, the free visit is at the reduced rate of €4. Information and bookings: +33 4 70 20 48 47.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Allier departmental museums offer a telephone reception service for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. The website gives no information on the building's accessibility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Address: 5 place du Colonel Laussedat, 03000 Moulins, within the enclosure of the castle of the Dukes of Bourbon.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit