Place d’Aine is best known for the impressive building to your right—the Limoges Court of Appeal, which has been here since 1808. Some of the other buildings that frame the square date back to the 18th century, though the eastern side had to be rebuilt in 1864 after a devastating fire. Before the square as you see it today existed, this area marked the entrance to the old town and was once the site of one of Limoges’ massive city gates. The square takes its name from Nicolas d’Aine, who served as Intendant of the Limousin from 1774 to 1783. Appointed by the king, intendants were high-ranking administrators who oversaw local governance under the Ancien Régime. Nicolas d’Aine earned a solid reputation during his tenure for restoring order and improving how the region was managed, leaving a legacy that lives on in the name of this historic square.