Tour des échevins, Art and archaeology museum in a 15th-century tower in Luxeuil-les-Bains, France

The Tour des échevins is a rectangular 15th-century building of Vosges sandstone with four floors, topped at its corners by a small octagonal crenellated belfry and three turrets. Its facade has Gothic mullioned windows with floral archivolts and a Flamboyant Gothic oriel whose supporting console is carved with human faces and animals. A 146-step staircase leads to the belfry, 33 m up.

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.

The gargoyle at the corner of the tower overhangs the flamboyant Gothic oriel, whose supporting console is carved with human faces and animal figures. Above the mullioned windows, phylacteries bear inscriptions of words from the Ave Maria, a message once meant to be read from the street.