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Origin and history

The Jesuit College of Moulins, built in the 17th century, is a remarkable example of religious and educational architecture from the Louis XIII period. Originally conceived by Father Martellange, famous Jesuit architect, his plans were made by Jean Harel. The building, characterized by its black and pink brick facades, is harmoniously integrated into the urban fabric of Moulins. Originally, it housed classrooms on the ground floor and dormitories upstairs, complemented by an unfinished church, a library decorated with frescoes, and spaces dedicated to community life such as a refectory and infirmary.

The college opened its doors in 1606 thanks to donations, but the Jesuits were expelled in 1761, replaced by the fathers of the Christian Doctrine until 1793. After the Revolution, the building became a courthouse in 1803, now home to the High Court and other courts. Ranked a historic monument in 1943, it retains major architectural elements such as the fresco of the Assumption in the library and a central courtyard planted with trees.

The building, owned by the Allier department, is distinguished by its Louis XIII style and its U-style organization, typical of the Jesuit colleges of the time. The monumental doors framed with doric pilasters and the adorned skylights underline its heritage importance. Although parts like the church have never been completed, the whole remains an exceptional testimony of the educational and judicial history of Moulins.

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