The luminescence of Eu3+ introduced as impurity in Ca3Gd2Si3O12, and Ca3Lu2Si3O12 has been investigated. According to the crystallographic evidences, three sites for the dopant ion are available with different occupation in the two hosts. In both matrixes, the dominant D-5(0) -> F-7(2) emission line reveals a low symmetry of the Eu3+ crystal sites. In the excitation spectrum of Eu doped Ca3Gd2Si3O12 a Gd3+ -> Eu3+ ET process is clearly visible. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.