*Luceram – the hidden gem in Provence Alpes is the fifth part from South of France itinerary 12 days in Provence and the French Riviera
Is Luceram worth visiting?
The beautiful medieval village of Luceram is one of the hidden gems in Southern France.
Despite its proximity to Nice, Luceram remains somewhat out of the way of the popular tourist spots. Whether it’s because it’s not located near the main roads or because it lacks the many tourist-friendly restaurants and souvenir shops, I don’t know. And maybe because the road to it is mountainous, steep, with many U-turns? Whatever the reason, the village is absolutely worth a visit and you have to include it in your South of France itinerary. It is intact and still preserves the coziness and medieval charm, in no way inferior to the more popular places in Provence.
If you like silence and don’t like crowds of tourists, then Luceram is just for you.
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Where is Luceram located?
Luceram is located in the Alpes-Maritimes department and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region at 650 meters above sea level. 27 km close to Nice in the Payonne Valley, this beautiful medieval village is perched on cliffs above the bend of the Payonne River, surrounded by an endless green landscape.
Luceram was once a fortified post on the ancient salt road, and in the Middle Ages it was a domain belonging to a Count of Provence. At the top of the village stood a castle, of which only a few ruins remain.
How to get to Luceram?
Luceram is located only 27 km to Nice and the easiest way is to get:
- By rent-a-car from Nice
- By bus 615 from Nice
- By bicycle. The route from Nice to Luceram is a challenge for cyclists with its steep switchbacks.
See more:
How to spend 4 days in 10 villages and towns near Nice France
Where to stay in Luceram?
If you like quiet, don’t like crowds and are a keen hiker or cyclist, I recommend staying in Luceram or the surrounding villages to fully enjoy the charm of the French countryside and get in touch with its nature.
- La Ferme des Cailletiers chez Marc – the house has two bedrooms, a living room and a fully equipped kitchen. The rating is Excellent 9.0 and the price for a night for four is 95 EUR.
- Tipi sous les étoiles avec petit déjeuner – break the standards and book a night in a tipi in nature. A terrace, garden and mountain views will be at your disposal, and the hosts will take care of you with a superb breakfast included in the price. The rating is Excellent 9.2 and the price for a night for two is 72 EUR.
- Ma Petite Maison à Lucéram – Village des crèches – the holiday home offers its guests a bedroom, a living room and an equipped kitchen. The terrace and the garden have views of the village. The rating is Excellent 8.8 and the price for a night for two is 149 EUR.
Top things to see in Luceram
The old narrow streets of Luceram
The first thing that will impress you are the narrow stone streets leading to the old square. As soon as you leave the car at the free parking lot at the beginning of the village, you will see houses with makeshift libraries in front of them. Apparently, reading is revered here.
It is a real pleasure to walk through the streets, where silence and harmony reign, and the local people are extremely kind. Everyone smiles and greets.
The streets in the village are stone and narrow. The houses are also built of stone in the Provençal style. They radiate coziness with the piles of flowers on the terraces and the lace curtains on the windows.
The village center of Luceram
In the central part of the village, the main place is occupied by the renovated hotel-restaurant De la Mediterranee, the tourist information center, two restaurants and a cafe where the locals play backgammon or cards.
In the old square is the Museum of the Nativity, which exhibits over 150 works representing various Christmas scenes from around the world. We couldn’t visit it, it was closed.
Saint Marguerite Church
The Church of Saint Marguerite is popular for its Baroque interior and Renaissance altarpiece attributed to the great Giovanni Balesson. Home to six 15th-century altars, the largest, that of Saint Marguerite and that of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, are attributed to Louis Breya. The church also keeps a treasure of great value (a wooden crucifix from the 16th century, Pietas and the Virgin and Child, a silver-gilt reliquary from the 15th century, etc.). Unfortunately it was closed and we couldn’t go inside.
Saint Jean Chapel
The Saint-Jean chapel impresses with its high bell tower, columns and the view that opens up around it.
The fortress The Throat
A castle once stood atop the village, but all that remains today are a few ruins, a cylindrical tower with archers’ slots and the remains of a crenellated fortified surrounding wall dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. The “open throat” tower is 15 meters high and is built in the shape of a horseshoe, facing the village. It looks partially destroyed, but it is not.
Luceram’s Christmas decoration
Continuing into the old part of the village towards the Church of Saint Marguerite and the Chapel of Saint Jean, we came across huge hanging balls and glittering ornaments. It turned out that every year the mayor and the villagers decorate the village for Christmas and do not put away the larger decorations. Christmas scenes are placed on windowsills, in cellars or in any other corner, and the village is covered with pine branches and red and gold ribbons.
The biblical scene
Through steep streets and a tunnel between the houses we reached the room where the biblical scene was displayed. It looked a little creepy.
The old stone houses of Luceram
Lucerne keeps the marks of its rich cultural history. The beautiful facades, arched old doors, framed windows, curious passages and alleys are delightful. Gothic houses are solidly built, designed to stand the test of time for many centuries. You will pass through arches and vaulted passages, doors with dated partitions and bread ovens, small fountains.
The Museum of Old Instruments and Local History
In Luceram you can also visit the Museum of Old Instruments and Local History. Located next to the church in the old chapel of Saint Jean, it houses an exhibition of old tools used in the village for various agricultural and domestic activities. Hundreds of tools are attractively presented and distributed according to their function such as the blacksmith’s tools, olive oil corker, blacksmith’s bellows and anti-wolf collar.
Walking routes
The municipality of Luceram is located in a mountainous area and has several peaks – such as Pointe de Faulio (1212 m), Cime de Peira -Cava (1460 m) and Mont Escobet (1170 m). It is also home to Peira-Cava, the first ski resort established in 1909, but unfortunately the chair lift was dismantled a few years ago.
To complete our visit to this superb village we can stop at the “Maison de Pays” where you can buy local products.
See more:
How to spend 4 days in 10 villages and towns near Nice France
What to visit in the area of Luceram?
The municipality of Luceram is located in a mountainous area. If you love the mountains, you can familiarize yourself with the different routes that lead to the mountain peaks in the area – Pointe de Faulio (1212 m), Cime de Peira – Cava (1460 m) and Mont Escobet (1170 m). Here is also Peira-Cava, the first ski resort, established in 1909, but unfortunately the chairlift was dismantled a few years ago.
You can also visit:
- “Maison de Pays” where you can buy local products.
- Cimiez Monastery
- The Redebraus Falls (Cascade de Redebraus). They are located a 16-minute drive from the village
- The church of Notre-Dame de la Menour , which is reached by a footpath that sits on top of an aqueduct. The distance is about 50 minutes by car
- You can combine your visit to Luceram with the village of Coaraze .
- Peillon is another picturesque Provençal village that you can include in your South of France itinerary.
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