Fire leaves Limoges town hall largely destroyed

Limoges’ historic town hall was left largely destroyed by fire on October 17, after a demonstration over rising living costs in the French city. The fire came amid nationwide protests that also saw clashes and damage to public property in several places. Haute-Vienne prefect Maurice Barate said the building was largely lost. Its roof had collapsed onto the lower floors, except for the west wing, and two-thirds of the exterior had disappeared, he said. The extent of damage that can be repaired or preserved has not yet been established. Witness accounts reported that masked individuals broke windows, entered the town hall and started a fire after the demonstration. The accounts do not establish who the individuals were or their political affiliations. The precise circumstances of the blaze and responsibility for it remain to be determined by authorities. The town hall was inaugurated in 1883 and received historic-monument protection in 1975. Its damage was a major loss to Limoges’ architectural heritage, Barate said. The building’s roof and façades were among the features covered by the protected status, according to reports describing its listing. The fire followed a...