Luxeuil-les-Bains

Visit Luxeuil-les-Bains, Franche-Comte

Situated to the east of the Haute-Saone department, in the Franche-Comte region of eastern France, Luxeuil is a pleasant town to explore, with a good selection of open spaces and interesting historical buildings to enjoy.

The most important buildings in Luxeuil-les-Bains date from the 15th - 18th centuries, although the town itself dates back much further - at least 2000 years, as seen in the excavations around the place de la Republique.

Exploring Luxeuil-les-Bains

Your first port of call when you visit Luxeuil is likely to be Saint Peter's basilica, built in the 13th and early 14th centuries, in the gothic style and using the characteristic dark sandstone of the region. One of the highlights inside the basilica is the ornately decorated organ surround.

Originally built as the church for the monastery of Saint-Peter and Saint-Paul in Luxeuil, since the French revolution it has been used as the local parish church for the town. You will see some other parts of the monastery nearby, such as the substantial Abbatiale Palace, but most has been lost over the centuries.

Dating from slightly later in the medieval period there are some impressive 15th century townhouses such as the Maison du Cardinal Jouffroy, the Maison du Bailli and the Maison Espagnole. Each has its individual characteristics, while they each share the common feature of having decorative stonework, windows and architectural features.

It is interesting to next see the arcaded Maison Francois Premier and Hotel Pusel, to see how Luxeuil architecture changed over the following century with the arrival of renaissance style architecture.

Museums and places of interest

A small museum dedicated to local history (in Gallic-Roman times) and more recent artists (especially locally born Jules Adler) can be seen in the Tour des Echevins, an attractive 15th century tower which also has good views across the town and surrounding countryside from the top.

The local lace industry was very important from the mid 19th to mid 20th centuries, and is commemorated in the 'Conservatoire de la Dentelle'.

Thermal baths at Luxeuil

Luxeuil-les-Bains also has a reputation as a local spa centre - and has been since Roman times. The original roman baths have been lost, but the spa is still based in the building established for the purpose in the 18th century by Louis XV, and continue to attract many visitors to Luxeuil.

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Tourist classifications for Luxeuil-les-Bains: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*;

Suggested places to visit near Luxeuil-les-Bains, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

Luxeuil-les-Bains tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Plombieres-les-Bains - recommended detour (18km) : Moffans-et-Vacheresse - ville fleurie 4* (25km) : Ballon d'Alsace - site of natural beauty (35km) : Rougegoutte - ville fleurie 4* (36km) : Epinal - ville fleurie 4* (41km) : Belfort - ville fleurie 4* (41km) : Roseraie du Chatelet - remarkable garden (43km) : Montbeliard - ville fleurie 4* (46km) :

See more places and a map at places near Luxeuil-les-Bains