Aups offers several different options for a stay: architectural history, museums, religious traditions, a trail to caves and activities centered on truffles. If you’re wondering whether Aups fits your travel plans, you can start by asking yourself which of these aspects interests you most. The specific themes range from the medieval history of the Collégiale Saint-Pancrace to guided climbing tours. You can also begin your search for a hotel in Aups with a clear focus in mind.
Architectural history, from the clock tower to the collegiate church
The Collégiale Saint-Pancrace was built outside the town walls between 1489 and 1503 by the architect Broulhoni. It replaced the village church, which had become too small. Its Provençal Gothic style and Renaissance façade bring two distinct architectural forms together in one building. The collegiate church also houses a museum of religious art. Its objects include the oldest processional cross in Provence, dating from the 14th century.
The “Tour de l’horloge” (Clock Tower) tells another chapter in the town’s history. It was first built in the 16th century as a watchtower to protect the village, and was later used as a prison. Its campanile contains a sundial dating from 1760 and a bell cast in 1712. The “Tour et remparts” (Tower and Ramparts) also points to the history of the town’s fortifications: it was part of the second perimeter wall of the Blacas castle. Place Louis Gauthier was the former market square from the 15th century onward. Together, these places show the different roles that buildings and squares have played throughout the town’s history.
Museums, art and religious traditions
The Musée Simon Segal brings together three painting schools from Toulon, Bourges and Paris. Its collection includes more than 280 paintings, including 58 works by the painter Simon Ségal. So your choice of interests can extend beyond a single artist: the collection brings together works from three distinct art schools. The Musée de la Résistance focuses on something different. It explores both the history of the local Resistance and the broader history of the French Resistance.
Aups’s religious heritage is evident not only in the collegiate church and its museum. Every year on the night of August 14, the Virgin of Notre-Dame de la Délivrance is carried in procession through the village streets. This tradition adds a recurring annual event to the town’s architectural history. If you’re interested in history, you can distinguish architecture, collections and a local religious tradition as different aspects of your stay.
Cave trail, Verdon and guided activities
In the Var département, Aups is one of the municipalities included in the new perimeter of the Parc naturel régional du Verdon, announced in 2025. The Sentier des grottes describes a specific route within the area: it passes beneath the Chapelle de la Trinité, reaches the first caves of Aups and continues to the Chapelle Sainte-Madeleine, which is located in a cave. The sequence of a chapel, caves and a chapel in a cave gives the trail a clearly identifiable destination. No information about distance or walking time is provided; you can use the route as described to help plan your visit.
The Maison de la Truffe offers information and events about truffles and regional products. La Corditelle adds guided adventure or introductory climbing tours at natural climbing sites to the range of activities. These are aimed at families, adults and young people, and take place year-round. Aups therefore offers a range of activities: you can choose cultural topics, explore truffles and regional products, or consider a guided climbing tour.
Choose Aups to suit your interests
When choosing between Aups and another destination, it comes down to the kind of experiences you’re looking for. Architectural history and museums offer several clearly defined themes for culture lovers, while the Sentier des grottes and guided climbing tours provide other options. If you’re especially interested in truffles, the Maison de la Truffe offers a dedicated experience. As you plan, consider which of these aspects you want to shape your stay around, and use that to guide your search for hotels in Aups.
Discover more destinations: Signes, Bagnols-En-ForĂŞt, Artignosc-Sur-Verdon, Moissac-Bellevue, Saint-Julien, Rocbaron, Cap BĂ©nat, Le Pradet.
View the broader travel guide: Var.
