Aups
Coat of arms of Aups
Chief Gules three gold lilies and blue with three silver mountains with the motto, “live everywhere” ! The three mountains represent the "Guguyons" emblem of Aups. The three lilies were granted in 1700 by King Louis XIV
Department of Var - Population: 2.147 h - Area: 6.415 ha - Alt .: 500 m.
At 38 km north of Brignoles and 29 km from Draguignan, at the intersection of
routes D9, D557 and D957.
The heritage of the city
North of the department, near the
Verdon, Aups is a picturesque village nestled at the foot of the mountain of
Espiguières in a privileged environment, in the Verdon Natural Park.
Biggest village of the back country, Aups is renowned throughout the region for
its famous and highly anticipated black truffle market, the only of South East,
from November to March, depending each year, on Thursday morning. Walking
through the old streets of this authentic village, you can admire beautiful old
doors, delicately worked lintels, medieval houses, ancient fountains that adorn
charming little squares; you will also notice some beautiful sundials. Aups has
retained its heritage in some interesting historical relics of the XI to XVI
century ramparts, castle ruins, Gothic collegiate ...
You cannot miss the clock tower (XVI °) from a height of 25 meters wearing her
wrought iron campanile. You will also pass under the “Porte des Aires”, vestige
of the ramparts of the twelfth and sixteenth. Depending on the season, from Aups
you will radiate throughout the region between the sea, which is only at 60 km,
or a ski resort, as the closest are only 80 km away. The Lac de Sainte Croix is
only twenty kilometers and offers all the pleasures of swimming, but also
canoeing and pedal boating, sailing boats, electric boats, windsurfing,
(navigation with combustion engines is prohibited)
Earlier in the gorges, thrill seekers can try all the water sports in the
Gorges du Verdon, (rafting, canyoning, etc) without forgetting the many
climbing routes and paths of great excursions that will make you through
magnificent landscapes, (Martel trail, Vidal trail)
A little history
Aups (Zaou in Provençal) was once called oppidum Alpibus and castrum Alpibus,
castrum Almis and Alps and finally Aups. It was occupied by Oxybiens during
Roman times to the location of Saint-Marc plate (on the
Via Aurelia from Fréjus to Riez). Julius Caesar rose to conquer Gaul and
he would have said "I would rather be first in Aups than being second in
Rome." All around the village, we find traces of the Roman presence, like
an old hospital and terminals including military
milestones around canjuers whose name comes from Julii Campus or camp of
Julius Caesar. The original village is located above the current, still
testifies to this day many stone lines, remains of buildings of the time.
He is devastated by the Saracens in the tenth century before the victory of the
Battle of Tourtour. King Rene erected in Aups as a Baillie (administrative
district) Independent, by detaching from the Baillie of Barjols she part. A
year later she was back into the authority of the latter until Francis I
decided to make an independent Baillie by letters data in 1533. Pope Alexander
IV transfers the former noble chapter Valmoissine in Aups in 1499.
The Huguenots of Baron “d'Allemagne en Provence” attacked the village 16 October
1574 and massacred 30 Aulpins. A "virgin massacre" was erected on the
place of torture located in the rue de l'Horloge. Aups killings also place during the French
Revolution.
Viguerie (or vicaria is a medieval administrative court in southern France (Occitania)
and Catalonia, its name comes from that of the place where it was made, the
vicus, that is to say, the village of some importance, but not necessarily a
capital) of Aups has been governed since the year one thousand by the line of
the Dukes of” Blacas d'Aulps” family in the area. However, following a trial
that starts in 1346 and will last nearly four centuries between the Dukes of
Blacas and the village of Aups, the town obtained in 1712 legally to be subject
to the King of France. they then melted a bell, visible even today in the bell
of the clock tower. This bell bears the inscription "I am the joy of
everyone" to remember these days of jubilation that marked the victory.
In 1804, Aups annex the town of Fabrègues, then populated with only 22 inhabitants
living in the Castle of Fabrègues and relatives houses.
Aups was also the center of the Var republican insurrection against the coup of
state of Napoleon III in 1851, from which the nickname was attributed "red
city of Var." Over 6000 armed surroundings Republicans join them between 8
and 10 December 1851. The whole town is mobilized, the hospital turned into
workshop where clothing is made by young volunteers seamstresses for men in
arms. The repressive brigade, headed by Colonel
Pastoureau enters in Aups 10th of December. The battle ended with a
victory of the 50th line brigade, a death against fifty in the ranks of
rebellious. An obelisk was erected in honor of the dead Republicans on the
Place Louis Martin Bidouré, hero of this rebellion that was executed twice which
(captured with a message on the road to Tourtour, they shoot him on the spot,
but evil regained consciousness he drags himself among farmers denounced, he was captured
again, and executes it again) A monument is
located in the village cemetery to his memory.
High place of resistance during the Second World War, the bloody episodes have
earned the town to get the War Cross with palms.
What not to miss :
Collegiate Church of St Pancras (XV), ruins of a castle of the XII, doors and
walls XII and XVI, clock tower and its bell tower, the Ursulines Convent
(private cloister), the Simon Segal Museum (exhibition paintings), the
Resistance museum (located in the Simon Segal museum), museum Faykod (marble
sculpture in outdoor exposure on the road to Tourtour) on Wednesday and
Saturday morning market
Home on the village :
Hotels, cottages, vacation rentals,
Activities :
Pétanque, Tennis, Fishing, Biking, many possible walks around, Lake St. Croix
Surrounding villages:
Moissac-Bellevue
(6 km), Villecroze (8 km), Sillans la Cascade (9 km), Salernes (10 km)
