Musée de la Tour des Échevins
Archaeology museum in Luxeuil-les-Bains, housed in a 15th-century Gothic tower, with Gallo-Roman stelae, pottery and a panorama from the top.
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About the museum
The Tour des Échevins was built in the 15th century by the Jouffroy family, one of the most important families in Luxeuil. It takes its name from the échevins, municipal magistrates who rented the building in the Middle Ages to hold council meetings. Over 30 metres high, this former town hall also served as a watchtower in times of unrest. Its facade in Vosges sandstone has rich flamboyant Gothic decoration, with an oriel window containing a former chapel and a large gargoyle combining a human face with a lion.
The town bought the tower back in 1552 and had it listed as a historic monument in 1862. The building successively served as an archive centre, civil prison, library and finally a store for antiquities, which led to the creation of the archaeology museum in 1865. It is one of the oldest museums in France.
The archaeological collections occupy two rooms and mainly illustrate the antiquity of Luxeuil: Gallo-Roman funerary stelae from the 1st to the 3rd centuries, wooden votive offerings found in the spa park, and samian and coarse pottery from the potters' kilns excavated at Châtigny between 1978 and 1988. A temporary exhibition is shown every year on the two upper levels. At the top, reached by 146 steps, an orientation table lets visitors read the landscape all the way to the Vosges and the Jura.
Highlights
- Flamboyant Gothic tower of the 15th century, one of the oldest museums in France
- Gallo-Roman funerary stelae from the 1st to the 3rd centuries
- Pottery from the potters' kilns of Châtigny
- Panorama from the top of the tower, after 146 steps
- Spiral staircase inscribed with the Ave Maria in Gothic lettering
Permanent exhibitions
- Collections archéologiques de la Tour des Échevins – Gallo-Roman funerary stelae, wooden votive offerings and pottery from the Châtigny potters' kilns, displayed over two levels.
- Panorama depuis le sommet de la tour – 360-degree view from the upper terrace, with an orientation table, over Luxeuil, the Vosges and the Jura.
- Founded
- 1865
- Operated by
- Ville de Luxeuil-les-Bains
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
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| Children & teens | freefree up to age 6 · Free for children under 7. |
| Groups | –Group packages are available on request from the Ecclesia and the tourist office. |
Payment by bank card, cash, cheque or holiday vouchers.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The climb to the top comprises 146 steps, a few landings and narrow passages, according to the tourist office. No other accessibility information is published.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Opening hours, prices and access conditions are published by the Ecclesia, the Cité patrimoine of Luxeuil, managed together with the tourist office. Guided town tours are organized by the tourist office by reservation. |
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