This is my photo of the Hôtel de Ville, the town hall, which I took during my visit to Limoges in July 2018. The building was inaugurated on 14 July 1883, its construction made possible by a substantial bequest from local benefactor Alfred Fournier. Designed by Charles-Alfred Leclerc, it drew inspiration from the former Paris town hall, combining Renaissance and Louis XIII architectural styles with an elaborate central clock tower. Its grand appearance reflected the civic ambitions of the period, whilst the fountain added outside in 1893 celebrated local craftsmanship through its combination of granite, bronze and ceramics. The building was recognised as a historic monument in 1975 but was largely destroyed by arsonists on 17 October 2026. Highly sub-optimal and a huge loss to the city’s architectural heritage.