Aups is a Haut-Var town of 2,200 residents, 11 km and 18 minutes from Tourtour. It claims the title of truffle capital: its black truffle market, on Thursday mornings from the last Thursday of November to the end of February, is presented as the third largest in France. The rest of the year, the Provençal market is held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Worth seeing: the Saint-Pancrace collegiate church (1503), the Simon Segal museum and the 16th-century clock tower. Aups is also the gateway to Lake Sainte-Croix from Tourtour.
Key facts
- From Tourtour: 11 km, about 18 minutes.
- Truffle market: Thursday mornings, from the last Thursday of November to the end of February.
- Provençal market: Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Place de la Mairie.
- Saint-Pancrace collegiate church: built in 1503.
- Simon Segal museum: 280 paintings, 175 of them from the École de Paris.
Aups at a glance
| Landmark | Value |
|---|---|
| From Tourtour | 11 km, about 18 min |
| Population | 2,192 residents (2023) |
| Village altitude | about 500 m |
| Truffle market | Thursday mornings, late November to late February |
| Provençal market | Wednesday and Saturday mornings |
The truffle market
This is what Aups is all about. The black truffle market is held on Thursday mornings, from the last Thursday of November to the end of February, and sometimes until mid-March depending on the harvest. It is presented as the third largest black truffle market in France. The town proclaimed itself “truffle capital” in 2009.
The market is held in the morning: come early.
The Provençal market
The rest of the year, and alongside the truffle market in winter, the Provençal market sets up on Place de la Mairie on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Together with Tourtour’s (also Wednesday and Saturday), that covers the week’s shopping. See the Tourtour market.
What to see in Aups
- The Saint-Pancrace collegiate church, built in 1503 by the architect Bourlhoni: 17th-century altars and woodwork, a 16th-century triptych and an organ by the Italian maker Agati.
- The Simon Segal museum, in the chapel of the former Ursuline convent: 280 paintings, 175 of them from the École de Paris.
- The clock tower, 16th century, 25 m high, topped by a wrought-iron bell cage, with a 1760 sundial and a 1712 bell.
- Place Martin-Bidouré and its 1881 obelisk.
Aups, gateway to Lake Sainte-Croix
From Tourtour, Aups is on the way to Lake Sainte-Croix. Bauduen and Les Salles-sur-Verdon, with their lifeguarded beaches in summer, are about twenty minutes further north. See Lake Sainte-Croix.
Combining the visit
Aups combines well with Villecroze, 8 km away, or with Tourtour on the same day. On a winter Thursday, the truffle market in the morning and Tourtour in the afternoon make a fine day out.
Frequently asked questions
What day is the Aups truffle market?
Thursday mornings, from the last Thursday of November to the end of February, sometimes until mid-March depending on the harvest.
What day is the Aups Provençal market?
Wednesday and Saturday mornings, on Place de la Mairie.
What is Aups known for?
The black truffle. Aups proclaimed itself truffle capital in 2009, and its market is presented as the third largest black truffle market in France.
Where can you swim near Aups?
In Lake Sainte-Croix, to the north: Bauduen and Les Salles-sur-Verdon have lifeguarded beaches in July and August.
Sources
Information checked against the sources below. Opening times and dates change: confirm before you travel.
- Wikipedia (French), Aups (markets, monuments, museum, population), accessed 7 November 2026
- Travel times: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap, from the centre of Tourtour, accessed 7 November 2026
