Quartier Villars

Started in the second half of the eighteenth century, the construction of the Quartiers Villars lasted a century. It was built to house a regiment of cavalry. The first architect was Jacques Denis Antoine, artist of great reputation, who built, among others, the Hôtel de la Monnaie in Paris.
The building falls within the reform program of military life, started by Choiseul, Minister of War of Louis XV.
The Quartiers Villars had bright moments during the nineteenth century until the 1930s. It was also the scene of dance balls and concerts. After the Second World War, the buildings were occupied by the police that abandoned it in 1980. Without any function, the Quarter Villars was supposed to be demolished; however, it was classified as a Historic Monument in 1984. The works for its salvation began in the following year, followed by a restoration campaign due to the fact that the building had been severely damaged by the start of its demolition.
At the end of several studies, the State proposed to the town of Moulins a project to establish a National Center for Costume Scene (CNCS). In 1997, an architecture competition was open to the reform of the main building and the construction of a building for the technical reserve. Jean-Michel Wilmotte was the winner, associated with an architect of Moulins, Jacques Brudin.
Completed in May 2006, the restoration works, which cost 22.5 million Euros, was financed by the state. The city, the region and the department donated 1 million Euros each.
Today, the Quartiers Villars has 10 buildings and the CNCS occupies 4 of them.