Historic Limoges Town Hall Burned Down During Cost-of-Living Protests in France
The 19th-century historic town hall in Limoges, France, was largely destroyed in a fire that broke out during nationwide protests.
During anti-government protests held in the French city of Limoges, the historic town hall was set on fire. As a result of the fire, the building's roof and bell tower collapsed, while local officials described the incident as a disaster for cultural heritage.
Amid the fourth week of demonstrations held in France over the cost of living and various other reasons, the historic town hall in Limoges was targeted. The neo-Renaissance style structure, whose construction began in 1873 and opened in 1883, had been declared a registered historical heritage site in 1975. Due to the fire set by masked groups, two-thirds of the building's facade was destroyed, the roof collapsed onto the lower floors, and only the west wing remained standing. The approximately 43-meter-high central clock tower was also among the destroyed elements.
Local officials and eyewitnesses considered the destruction to be a major loss in terms of historical heritage. Limoges Mayor Guillaume Guerin stated that local forces were insufficient because national police were diverted to street protests. During Saturday's demonstrations across France, which were attended by hundreds of thousands of people, clashes and property damage occurred in cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, and Bordeaux; Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that approximately 400 people were detained. President Emmanuel Macron and other officials condemned the violence and emphasized that those responsible would be punished.