Lucéram (French pronunciation: [lyseʁam]; Italian: Lucerame, formerly; Occitan: Luceram) is a rural commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the southeastern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France.

Lucéram
Luceram (Occitan)
A view of Lucéram in winter
A view of Lucéram in winter
Coat of arms of Lucéram
Location of Lucéram
Map
Lucéram is located in France
Lucéram
Lucéram
Lucéram is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Lucéram
Lucéram
Coordinates: 43°53′00″N 7°21′41″E / 43.8833°N 7.3614°E / 43.8833; 7.3614
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentAlpes-Maritimes
ArrondissementNice
CantonContes
IntercommunalityPays des Paillons
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Michel Calmet[1]
Area
1
65.52 km2 (25.30 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,264
 • Density19/km2 (50/sq mi)
DemonymLucéramois
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
06077 /06440
Elevation400–1,567 m (1,312–5,141 ft)
(avg. 660 m or 2,170 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The commune of Lucéram is home to the village of Peïra-Cava, north of the village of Lucéram, the first winter sports station in the department, established in 1909. The village of Lucéram has a number of ecclesiastical and medieval monuments, as well as altarpieces by Ludovico Brea.

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 630—    
1975 694+1.39%
1982 889+3.60%
1990 1,026+1.81%
1999 1,035+0.10%
2009 1,249+1.90%
2014 1,237−0.19%
2020 1,279+0.56%
Source: INSEE[3]

Its inhabitants are known as Lucéramois (masculine) and Lucéramoises (feminine) in French.

Geography

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The town is built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Foil. In the lower valley, there is an intersection of the salt road that leads from the port of Nice in Savoy, through the valley of Vésubie. The village lies at 650 meters altitude, and 27 kilometers from Nice by D 2566.

Toponymy

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The origin of the name Lucéram is uncertain.

Lucéram is originally the name Lucerius or Lucerus. Lucerius was a Benedictine monk. The name is a derivative of a Luceranus that appears in text in 1057, and may have given the village its name. The Latin phrase Lux eram ("I was light") could also be the origin of the name. Durante gives another expression, Lucus eram ("I was a sacred grove"), which appears to refer to the ancient worship of the forest that surrounds the village. This etymology is questionable when it is compared with its Latin name Pagus Liccirum. Louis Durante also indicates that the village was built on a fully wooded eminence. In ancient texts there are also the names Lucis-ramus and Luciramus. Luceram was the capital of the tribe of Lepontii quoted on listing Trophée des Alpes.

Sights

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Sights include the church St. Margaret (late 15th century), housing an altarpiece by Ludovico Brea and a 13th-century Pietà.

Culture

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Each year, the mayor and villagers decorate the village in the theme of Christmas. The village is covered with pine branches and red and gold ribbons. There are nativity scenes set up on window sills, in cellars or any available nook and cranny.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE