Tour des échevins, tour à Luxeuil-les-Bains (Haute-Saône)
The Tour des échevins is a medieval tower built in the 15th century in the heart of Luxeuil-les-Bains that once served as a town hall, prison, and archive. Today it houses a museum with three floors displaying archaeological finds from ancient times and paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The tower was built by the Jouffroy family in the 15th century and purchased by the city in 1552, becoming a protected historical monument in 1862. Over the centuries it served as a town hall, prison, library, and storage for historical objects that formed the basis of today's museum.
The name 'échevins' comes from local magistrates who assisted the city leader. Today the tower serves as a museum where collections gathered over centuries tell the story of the town through its objects and displays.
Climbing the 146 steps of the spiral staircase leads to a viewing platform with views over the town and surrounding landscape including the Vosges and Jura mountains. The museum is open to visitors during summer months in the late morning through late afternoon, with group visits by appointment at other times.
Atop the tower sits a large stone gargoyle featuring a face combined with a lion's head. A gothic oriel bay contains a small chapel and displays detailed carved stonework of plants and animals that reveal the skilled craftsmanship of its builders.
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