Opened in 1856 by the “Compagnie des Railways de Paris in Orléans”, the Limoges-Bénédictines station was inaugurated in its current form in 1929. This architectural masterpiece, which became an emblem of the city, has been registered in the register of historic monuments since 1975. A magnificent building first misunderstood then threatened during a terrible fire. Back on this story in archives.
For almost a century, this station like the others has been the pride of Limougeauds, and rightly so, since it was devoted “most beautiful station in France” in 2022.
However, its construction in the early twenties of the previous century had not aroused enthusiasm, on the contrary. A mixture of late art new, art deco and neoclassicism, its original silhouette would have even generated many reserves among the inhabitants.
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The construction of the Limoges station in the early twenties of the previous century had not aroused enthusiasm, on the contrary. A mixture of late art new, art deco and neoclassicism, its original silhouette would have even generated many reserves among the inhabitants.
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© Paul Colmar photo library
“They do not quite understand the form, especially the very high campanile, but they will get used to it”, indicates the historian Pascal Plas. “This campanile and the dome will also give a rather oriental aspect which surprises in the architectural forms of Limousin which were not really designed in this way, at that time”.
To discover this long and beautiful story in pictures, look at Emmanuel Denanot’s report:
Video duration: 00h03mn55s
It is a monument that has become the symbol of a city, a station like no other which for more than a century has been an integral part of the Limoges landscape. The essential building has made a lot of talk about him on regional television antennas as in 2022, a consecration day with the title of the most beautiful station in France. Back on this story with the INA archives of your regional television.
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© Emmanuel Denanot – Documentation service France 3 Limousin with INA – France Télévisions
Work by Roger Gonthier, young architect of 34 ansthe building shared its life between vapor and electricity: steam until 1967, when the last locomotive of this nature came out of the Limoges revision workshops. “The Limoges deposit being built around 1927, it must be the 2000ᵉ locomotive to get out of these workshops”, specifies the engineer Mr. Cuffy, director of the deposit.
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Limoges Benedictine station, symbol of the capital of Limousin
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© France Télévisions
Modernity will then occur with a word that still resonates in the head of the Limougeauds: “Le Capitol”. In 1970, the motors pulled cars of great comfort with four-position seats, where travelers can eat in their place, this tinch jewel then enters the large trans-European luxury train category.
Grace by the way 200 km/h of an additional section north of Fleury-les-Aubrais, the duration of the journey between Paris Austerlitz and Limoges descends at 02:50 a.m.a performance that will never be improved.
The Benedictine station saw its heart throbing to the rhythm of history, becoming a place of protest, especially in May 1968, with striking demonstrators and stopping trains. A heart that could have stopped beating thirty years later …
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At the dawn of the new millennium, the Limoges-Bénédictines station has found its emblematic appearance, the symbol of the capital of Limousin crosses time, with his regional television as a witness.
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© André Abalo – France Télévisions
The fire creates an immense stir in the city, “It’s a bit of our northern star”will even say a resident in front of the claim, fortunately controlled flames and a largely preserved building.
A year and a half later, the damaged dome and its famous copper plates made a facelift.
“The main problem was to redo identical to keep our station an authentic character while trying to adopt recent methodologies, we have thus adapted certain points of this dome in terms of security which was not the case originally.”
At the dawn of the new millennium, the Limoges-Bénédictines station has found its emblematic appearance, the symbol of the capital of Limousin crosses time, with his regional television as a witness.
