City Hall in Limoges

Inspired by the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, this striking building on Square Jacques Chirac was designed by Charles-Alfred Leclerc, who served for six years as chief architect of the Château de Versailles in the 19th century. It was inaugurated in 1883, made possible thanks to Alfred Fournier, a generous local who left his entire fortune to the city to fund its construction—his bust still stands proudly in the entrance hall. The elegant limestone façade blends elements of Renaissance and Louis XIII styles. Look up at the clock just above the city’s coat of arms, and you’ll see it flanked by two sculptures by Tony Noël, representing allegories of Silversmithing and Enamelling—two of Limoges’ most celebrated crafts. Just below the clock are four medallions featuring portraits of notable figures from the city’s past. From left to right: Léonard Limosin, a 16th-century painter, draughtsman, and engraver; Henri François d’Aguesseau, a magistrate and statesman born in 1668; Pierre Victurnien Vergniaud, a brilliant orator of the French Revolution who famously voted for the execution of Louis XVI; and Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, the Revolutionary general you may remember from earlier in the tour. In the middle of the square stands a beautiful fountain made of porcelain, bronze, and granite, which has decorated the space since 1893. The Hôtel de Ville was officially listed as a Historic Monument in 1975 and remains one of Limoges’ most iconic buildings. Interestingly, this very square was once home to the Roman forum when the city, then called Augustoritum, was part of the Gallo-Roman world.