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Partially transparent ceramic of 2 at.% Eu doped CaF2 have been grown preferentially towards [111] direction. For this purpose, Eu doped CaF2 nanoparticles (size~12 nm) obtained by a low temperature solution growth method has been pressed at 1000°C under vacuum. The preferentially grown ceramic shows 15% transparency within the visible range of spectrum. As confirmed by the X-ray diffraction result, the hot pressed ceramic exhibits reduced lattice volume than the nanopowder. It indicates Eu3+ as the dominant substituting ions at the Ca2+ sites of CaF2 lattice in the hot pressed ceramic material. It is corroborated by the photoluminescence results of hot pressed ceramic which shows strong red emission corresponding to Eu3+ sites. However, photoluminescence of nanopowder exhibits intense peak in the blue region of the spectrum which is characteristics of Eu2+ sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]