Taxi Nice — Lucéram

Lucéram is a hidden gem of the Nice hinterland, a medieval village perched at 650 metres altitude on a rocky spur overlooking the Paillon valley. Listed among remarkable heritage sites, this village has preserved its intact medieval character with vaulted alleys, covered passages, stone houses with lauze roofs and the remains of its feudal castle. But Lucéram is above all famous throughout Provence for its extraordinary Christmas nativity circuit, one of the largest in southern France. From early December to late January, over 450 nativity scenes are installed in the alleys, cellars, fountains and niches of the village, transforming Lucéram into a true open-air museum of nativity art, from the most traditional to the most contemporary. The Church of Sainte-Marguerite harbours an unexpected treasure for such a small village: an exceptional collection of altarpieces from the Nice Renaissance school, including a major altarpiece attributed to Louis Bréa, the 'Fra Angelico of Nice'. The gilded panels depicting Saint Margaret and local saints are remarkably fine. The landscape around Lucéram is wildly beautiful, between centuries-old olive groves and pine forests, with panoramic views of the snowy Mercantour peaks to the north and the Mediterranean to the south.