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Origin and history

The pavilion of Anne-de-Beaujeu is a Renaissance wing of the Château des Ducs de Bourbon, built in Moulins (Allier) in the early 16th century. It marks the introduction in France of Italian architecture, discovered during the Italian wars (1497-1499). Ordered by Anne de Beaujeu and Pierre II de Bourbon, he closed the courtyard of the castle and included refined decorations: canned pilasters, d'acanthe leaves and abundant horns. A vaulted chapel, now destroyed, completed the whole.

The pavilion is part of the political history of the Duchy of Bourbon, the administrative capital since 1378. Moulins became a power center under the regency of Anne de Beaujeu during the Italian campaigns of Charles VIII. After 1532, the attachment of the duchy to the Crown led to the gradual abandonment of the castle. A fire in 1755 ravaged the wing, classified as ruin in 1774. Saved by its ranking at the Historic Monuments in 1840, it was restored in 1907 to house the Anne-de-Beaujeu Museum.

The architecture of the pavilion, attributed to Marceau Rodier, combines elegance and symbolism. The arcade gallery, decorated with ancient motifs, bears witness to Italian influence. The monogram of Pierre de Beaujeu, visible on the facade, confirms its completion before 1503. After various uses (gendarmerie in 1839), the building became a museum in 1910, combining Renaissance heritage and archaeological collections.

Today owned by the Allier department, the pavilion illustrates the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Its decor, inspired by Italian models, makes it a key milestone in French artistic history. The donation Louis Mantin in 1907 allowed his preservation and his current museum vocation.

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