In the Christmas season, upon arriving at Lucéram, the village perched on its rocky spur offers the image of a nativity scene.
In a natural setting of fir trees and greenery, across various visiting spots, one can discover a building, a neighborhood, and even the village…
Last year, the nineteenth edition of the Crèche Circuit, which perpetuates the traditions of the Paillons valley to which the inhabitants are very attached, attracted nearly 50,000 visitors.
At the entrance of the village, visitors follow the marked trail that leads them to discover the nativity scenes:
In fact, there are more than 500 traditional nativity scenes made by the inhabitants that are displayed along the circuit that the visitor traverses.
Outside, under porches, laundries, window sills, display windows, at the Tower in a stack of wood, on a gutter, etc…
Inside, in cellars, at the merchants’, in the bread oven, St. Peter’s Chapel, Nativity Scene Museum, Maison de Pays, Placette, St. Margaret’s Church, Old Tools Museum, Olive Oil Mill of Val del Prat, Peïra-Cava Station, Turini.
From the smallest in half a walnut shell to the largest measuring 10 meters long, a whole range of nativity scenes is displayed, varying in size and representation, from the most original to the most unusual: in a matchbox, a wooden clog, gourds, wrought iron, knitted…
The santons, these “Little Saints,” are traditionally represented in clay or terracotta, painted. But in Lucéram, visitors discover them dressed, in wood, fabric, wrought iron, salt dough, chalk, wax, clothespins, knitted… and, at the height of originality: in chocolate and champagne corks!
Their size ranges from the smallest, called “Flea,” to one measuring 60 cm in height, up to life-size.
One can also visit the Nativity Scene Museum, on Adrien Barralis Square: more than 170 works, from the humblest to the most prestigious, including a superb Neapolitan nativity scene collection.
