Église Saint-Michel-des-Lions à Limoges, Gothic church in Limoges, France.

The Église Saint-Michel-des-Lions is a large Gothic church that rises above the city of Limoges and stands out for its characteristic architectural style. Its facade displays typical Gothic features with pointed arches and carved stonework, while a prominent bell tower topped with a large metal sphere crowns the roof.

Around 630 Saint Loup, bishop of Limoges, gave a chapel of Saint Michael to the canons of Saint-Martial. Fires in 1123 and 1147 destroyed the church, rebuilt by the monk Pierre de Verteuil and consecrated in 1213; that building collapsed, and the first stone of the present church was laid in 1364. A western bay with large windows was added in 1552, and the bell tower was reworked in 1604, 1754 and 1810.

The name refers to four Gallo-Roman stone lions, probably funerary monuments from antique necropolises. Two guard the entrance, one stands inside, and a fourth faces the church from the place du Présidial. The Grande confrérie de saint Martial and the confrérie des Porteurs de la Châsse maintain the cult of Saint Martial with a weekly Wednesday prayer and the septennial Ostensions.

The building is open to visitors during regular hours, with guided tours available to help explore the architectural details and interior spaces. Visitors should remember that this is an active place of worship where appropriate dress and respectful conduct are expected.

The metal sphere atop the bell tower was added after lightning struck in 1810, when a military engineer had it installed to aid triangulation and geodetic surveying. Weighing 600 kg and about two metres across, it divided Limoges between "boulophiles" and "boulophobes"; the present openwork copper ball was only set in place after the First World War, beside a weathercock unmoved since 1824.