Ruins of Limoges city hall a symbol of France divided by national protests

"It is a historical tragedy for France, not just Limoges".

Just six months into his mayoral term, it is hard to imagine Guillaume Guérin having a more momentous week.

We talk next to what became the defining image of last week's nationwide protests: the still impressive, yet fragile exterior of his town's 19th-Century town hall, charred from a fire.

The sight of its wooden clock tower collapsing into the flames drew widespread shock and anger, and Guérin, who was in tears when he first saw the scale of the damage this week, believes the reaction is "legitimate and completely understandable".

What is apparent from the array of flowers and sombre onlookers gathered at the hall's entrance, is that this is a town mourning the loss, or at the least the harm inflicted on its most iconic and, frankly, most beautiful building.

Guérin blames the damage on the French hard left, "supported by rioters". Two men have been arrested, a 66-year-old, as well as another suspect who is 34. Prosecutors say they have links to "radical-left networks".

Limoges' conservative mayor claims he has received a message of support from US Vice President JD Vance, but not Emmanual Macron, his own, outgoing president.

"What happened here will have an influence on the upcoming presidential election. This country is not doing well at all," he says.

Kaynak: BBC News World RSS (Açık Basın / Haber Servisi)