“The roof collapsed on the lower floors, with the exception of the west wing, and two-thirds of the exterior has already disappeared,” said the region’s prefect, Maurice Barate.
He described the extensive damage to the 143-year-old building as a “heritage disaster” and slammed it as a “deliberate act of hooligans”.
The arson occurred during unrest that rocked France on Saturday during nationwide protests over the cost of living.
A group of masked protesters who set fire to a police car in front of town hall were seen breaking windows and entering the building to set it on fire, according to witnesses.
Firefighters were deployed on Saturday evening to try to contain the fire.
As hundreds of people watched the fire, a municipal worker was seen in tears, being comforted by a local councillor.
Several businesses in the center of Limoges were also looted.
© 2026 AFP
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