A fire set by masked protesters has destroyed the historic city hall in the French city of Limoges. The building had stood for nearly a century and a half and survived two world wars.
Local government official Maurice Barate told the news agency AFP that after protesters set it alight, the whole roof collapsed except over the western part of the building, and two-thirds of its exterior was destroyed.
Barate called the extensive damage to the 143-year-old building “a disaster for heritage”. He strongly condemned it, describing it as “a deliberate act by criminals”. The fire at Limoges city hall was set on Saturday during protests across France against the rising cost of living.
Witnesses said a group of masked protesters broke the building’s windows and went in to set the fire after a police car outside had been set alight. Firefighters worked late into Saturday night to bring the blaze under control.
Hundreds of people watched the city hall burn. As it burned, a local councillor standing outside comforted a municipal worker who was crying at the sight.
The building’s clock tower collapsed as firefighters fought the blaze on 17 October 2026.
Several shops in central Limoges were also looted during the protest.
Hundreds of thousands of people protested across France on Saturday against the rising cost of living, problems in schools and declining public services. Protesters clashed with police in Paris and other cities. The French government said about 550,000 people took to the streets across the country, and at least 1,400 people were arrested.
The CGT union, which works for workers’ rights in France, told Reuters it estimated that about 800,000 people had protested.
In Paris, protesters fought running battles with riot police until the evening. Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse them. At one point streets and cars in the capital were set on fire, several shops were looted and at least one restaurant burned down.
According to France’s interior ministry, some masked individuals attempted looting, clashed with the security forces and set fire to buildings. Government buildings and media offices were also attacked. The French government blamed the unrest on the “far left”.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 150 police officers were injured in the violence and that police had faced “extreme violence”. In Lyon, protesters set fire to a tourist office.
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