| L'Escarène | |
| Commune Status: | Commune |
| Image Coat Of Arms: | Blason ville fr L'Escarène 06.svg |
| Arrondissement: | Nice |
| Canton: | Contes |
| Insee: | 06057 |
| Postal Code: | 06440 |
| Demonym: | Escarénois |
| Mayor: | Pierre Donadey[1] |
| Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Intercommunality: | Pays des Paillons |
| Coordinates: | 43.8353°N 7.3572°W |
| Elevation M: | 345 |
| Elevation Min M: | 220 |
| Elevation Max M: | 1054 |
| Area Km2: | 10.67 |
L'Escarène (in French pronounced as /lɛskaʁɛn/; Occitan (post 1500);: L'Escarèa; Italian: Scarena, formerly) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the southeastern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France.
It was part of the historic County of Nice until 1860, named Scarena. In modern Italian, it is known as L'Escarena. The town was a main stop along the Route de Sel during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, between the French Provence and Italian Piedmont, on the Nice to Turin road. It was built in the bottom of the valley of Spangle of Escarène at the confluence of the streams of Redebraus and Paillon. More than half of its territory is made up of pine and oak, with marked trails for easy walks and hikes.
In 2022, the commune was the scene of a group lynching, after which a 39-year-old man accused of stealing died.[2]
The name of the town comes from the ancient Occitan and Franco-Provençal 'scarenna', a common name in the Alps and the wider Southeast (l'Escarène, Echarenne, Echerenne, Eycherennes, Eysserennes, Echirène, Echarasson, Chérennes, etc.). The word derives from the Latin 'scala', "scale", with classic passage of the intervocalic in 'r'. In place names, it refers to the edge, the steepest part of the mountain which can be reached by degrees as of a ladder.[3]
In Occitan Nice, the name of the town is L'Escarène according to classical norm and standard Mistralian. The inhabitants are called Escarénois. Scarena was the official Italian name of the municipality in 1814 and 1860.
The village is cited in history since the eleventh century. In 1037 there was a St. Peter's Church in L'Escarène. The stronghold of 'Lescarena' 'or' 'Scarena' 'belonged to the Saint-Pons Abbey, Nice.
A castle was built there in the first half of the thirteenth century, but was destroyed in 1252. The first houses were built in the late thirteenth century.[4] The oldest known house is' 'the Maioun de Pie' at Safranier. It has no doors or windows; entry is gained thru the roof via ladder.
In 1520 the village was detached from the municipality of Peille. The lordship of the town belonged to a Nice consul family, Tonduti, who bore the title of Count of L'Escarène. Until 1570, the village developed on the slopes of Mount Pifourchier.
The development of the Salt Road between Nice and Piedmont by L'Escarène, Lucéram, Lantosque and Vésubie Valley connected the town to the outside world. The construction of the Royal Road (Nice-Turin) by the Col di Tenda will increase the importance of the city as a stopping point.[5]
An earthquake damaged the region on 23 February 1887. On 30 October 1928, the railway line from Nice to Breil-sur-Roya was inaugurated.
In 1991 the Ancient Music Festival l'Escarène and Paillon was initiated. This event has gained national renown..
Since 2000, the "Appointment of the Organ Alive" is organized every summer to showcase the organ-making history of the Grinda brothers. Several organ recitals are programmed in the months of August and September with prestigious organists.