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Origin and history

The presidial of the generality of the Limousin, located in Limoges, was built between 1774 and 1784 to replace a first presidial installed in the 16th century in the former presbytery of the church Saint-Michel-des-Lions, to which it was contiguous. This neoclassical building, attributed to architect Joseph Brousseau, initially housed the court of generality. After the Revolution, he joined the city's first prison, and in the 19th century he hosted the municipal library, the museum of Limoges, and a law school, which remained there until the 2000s.

The facade, marked by a triangular pediment and a doric cornice, reflects the architectural style of the era. The building, disused after its last institutional use, was listed as historical monuments in 1947 (only the facade is protected). Redesigned as "characteristic" apartments, it retains a symbolic place in the judicial and cultural history of Limoges, as evidenced by its successive uses.

Its location on the Presidual Square recalls its central role in local administration. The sources also mention his connection with the church of Saint-Michel-des-Lions, with which he once communicated. The architect Brousseau, known for other neoclassical works in the region, would have designed this emblematic facade, although this attribution remains to be confirmed according to the available references.

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