Limoges’ 143-year-old town hall largely destroyed by fire during French cost-of-living protests

The 143-year-old town hall in the French city of Limoges was set on fire and largely destroyed on October 17 during nationwide protests against the rising cost of living.

According to AFP, a group of masked people broke windows at the end of the protest, entered the building and set it alight. Maurice Barate, prefect of the Haute-Vienne department, said “the roof has collapsed onto the lower floors, except in the west wing, and two-thirds of the facade has already disappeared,” calling it a “heritage catastrophe.” He condemned what he described as “a deliberate act by hooligans, not protesters.” Elected officials, municipal police officers and staff were inside the building when the fire was set, but no one was hurt.

The bell tower of the building, which opened in 1883 and was modelled on the Paris city hall, also collapsed. Mayor Guillaume Guérin said “this is not stupidity, it is hatred,” adding that the building was “very heavily damaged” and “largely lost.”

According to the prefect, about 5,000 people took part in the protest in Limoges, several hundred of whom were violent. Six police vehicles were burned or badly damaged during the unrest, and several shops in the city centre were looted. Limoges prosecutor Emilie Abrantes said an arson investigation had been opened, and more than 15 people were taken into custody, including minors suspected of looting.

Organisers put nationwide turnout at 800,000, while the Interior Ministry counted 550,000, including 110,000 in Paris. President Emmanuel Macron said that “those who smashed and attacked prefectures and shops will be prosecuted and punished,” franceinfo reported.

Protests over the cost of living have continued in France in recent weeks, and egov.mn previously reported that many schools stayed closed after high school student protests turned violent.

Sources: AFP, RFI, France 24, franceinfo, Le Journal du Centre