Halles de Limoges, Heritage market hall in city center, Limoges, France

Halles de Limoges is a market hall built in the late 19th century with an iron and glass framework that allows natural light to pour through large windows into the interior. The space is divided into sections where vendors sell fresh produce, meat, cheese, and other regional goods.

Built between 1885 and 1889 on Place de la Motte, the hall was designed by architects Pesce and Lévesque after Limoges failed to secure Gustave Eiffel's firm. It was listed as a monument historique on 16 August 1976. A renovation begun in March 2018 reopened the market on 16 November 2019, with official inauguration on 23 November 2019.

The name recalls the city's porcelain trade: a frieze of 328 ceramic panels made by the Guérin firm runs along the facade, showing game, meat and fruit sold inside. The market sits on Place de la Motte in the historic Château district, and after reopening in November 2019 it houses new shops alongside the food stalls.

The hall sits on Place de la Motte in the Château district, in the heart of Limoges city centre, so it is easiest to reach on foot or by public transport rather than by car. The building is rectangular with iron portals on all four sides, so you can enter from whichever facade you approach. Allow time to walk the two levels and the surrounding streets.

The municipality first asked Gustave Eiffel's company to build the hall, without success; two of his colleagues, Pesce and Lévesque, then drew up the plans. Look up at the metal arches for their floral ornament, and at the frieze of glazed ceramic tiles showing flowers, birds and the goods sold inside.