Our take
A museum recognised well beyond Moulins. Each exhibition is a dive into the magic of live performance.
The CNCS, unique in France. Opera, theatre and ballet costumes, in exhibitions renewed during the year.
The CNCS, in Moulins, is the only museum entirely devoted to stage costume and scenography. It preserves and displays the collections of the Comédie-Française, the Opéra national de Paris and the Bibliothèque nationale de France: opera, theatre and ballet costumes, shown in themed temporary exhibitions that are renewed. One room, created from the star dancer's donation, is dedicated to Rudolf Nureyev. It is all housed in the Quartier Villars, a listed former 18th-century cavalry barracks, on the banks of the Allier. A café, shop and garden round off the visit.
Why we love it
- The only museum devoted to stage costume: opera, theatre, ballet
- The Rudolf Nureyev room, created from the dancer's donation
- A former 18th-century cavalry barracks on the banks of the Allier
Top tip
See the programme on cncs.fr before you come. The museum café is decent for a lunch break.
Before you go
- Free parking on site.
- Have a look at the programme on cncs.fr before you come.
- The current exhibition stays on show for several months, check which one it is before you come
Practical info
- Address
- Quartier Villars, Route de Montilly, 03000 Moulins, France
03000 Moulins - Monday10h–18h
- Tuesday10h–18h
- Wednesday10h–18h
- Thursday10h–18h
- Friday10h–18h
- Saturday10h–18h
- Today10h–18h
Opening hours
What visitors say
Google rating
Average of 3,233 reviews on Google Maps.
Community rating
No reader reviews yet: yours gets things started.
It's for you if
- You love fashion, opera and the backstage of live performance
- You want a museum that is unique in France, in Moulins
- You keep coming back: the exhibition changes every six months
Give it a miss if
- You expect a permanent collection: everything rotates through exhibitions
- You only have an hour: the visit takes almost two
Your logbook
Around Centre national du costume et de la scène (CNCS)
7 spots in and around Moulins, enough to build your day.
Where to eat close by
€€La Petite Auberge
4.6Moulins · a 5-minute walk away
Divers Gens
4.8Moulins · a 5-minute walk away
€€Le Bistrot de Guillaume
4.8Moulins · 1.1 km away
A place to see, a night to spend?
Hotels, gîtes and B&Bs within 20 km of Moulins. Availability and online booking.
Worth a read
Articles and guides that mention this place.
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