The town hall of Limoges, devoured by flames after the riots: a 19th century neo-Renaissance building inspired by Paris

The social protests carried out this Saturday in France over the high cost of living standards have ended up leading to violent riots in Paris and many other cities.

One of the most shocking images has taken place in Limoges - in the center of the country - where its town hall has been devoured by flames after a group of individuals entered the building and set fire to its interior.

"It is practically destroyed," lamented the prefect of the French department of Haute-Vienne, Maurice Barate. The fire has caused serious damage to the structure and it was not until this Sunday that it was brought under control.

The fire affected the interior of the building, but also the roof and the bell tower, which were caught in the flames and ended up collapsing, as could be seen in videos published on social networks.

According to local authorities, several protesters forced entry to the building this Saturday and set fire inside. The flames soon spread to the upper floors and reached the roof, which ended up collapsing.

"They have destroyed a building that the inhabitants of Limoges love, but they have not destroyed the public service," said the town's mayor, Guillaume Guérin. "It is a monument that burns, but not the Republic," added the councilor.

The property damage to the Limoges town hall has not yet been calculated by the authorities. The building, built between 1876 and 1883, was declared a historical monument in 1975.

The architect Charles-Alfred Leclerc was in charge of designing the building at that time, located in a former convent and whose façade is reminiscent of that of the Paris town hall.