Travel

Saturday in Aups

A guide to the sights of the pretty market town of Aups

Ok, so let’s start by saying that you don’t need a full day to explore Aups. But it is the perfect way to spend a day.

Aups

Aups is a pretty, small town situated in the Var region of Provence, Côte d’Azur. It is 60km from the coast and is the gateway to the stunning Verdon area.

How we start our day in Aups

The boulangarie in Aups is fantastic and is used by both locals and tourists. We like to start our day by buying a paper bag full of croissants and heading to the Cafe Central for a coffee to go with them. We sit and happily watch the village as it begins to wake up. Shops opening, market traders arriving and our favourite waiter signing in for the day.

Aups

Saturday is market day in Aups (there is also one on a Wednesday). Maybe this is why we love a Saturday in Aups so much. Carrying our trusted market basket (we are rarely without one-it borders obsession!) we spend time picking our fruit, vegetables and fresh goats cheese from the market. We look longingly at the olive wood bowls, picking up numerous pieces with their little white price tags, before deciding the budget can’t stretch that far. Maybe just some salad servers! The market is a buzz with life, tourists crowd the lavender honey stand displaying its pretty jars with purple ribbons. And the soap stall with every shade and smell imaginable. We never tire of a Saturday morning in the market even though it never changes.

Aups

Lunch is usually our findings from the market served alfresco with a bottle of A.O.C Côtes de Provence Rose (2019) from Domaine Sainte Jean de Villecroze. (Well worth taking a few bottles home too!)

Our afternoon in Aups

After a nap and swim we head back into the village for an ice cream, ice-cold drink and a stroll around the many winding alley ways and streets, stopping every two steps to take a photo. Little shops selling oils, pottery and fabrics invite us in and we shouldn’t but we can’t help but buy some tapenade for our tomato and tapenade tart.

Aups

As the evening draws in, the villagers head out for a game of Petanque (boules). One which goes on long into the night. We head to dinner. There is lots of choice in Aups.
The Auberge de la Tour is one of our favourites with a pretty courtyard and varied menu. There is something to suit everyone here.

Aups

https://www.aubergedelatour.org/

Our other regular haunt is La Provençal. This is another reasonably priced restaurant with a great atmosphere. Fairy lights hang from the tree in the courtyard adding to the ambience.

La Provencal

 https://www.logishotels.com/fr/hotel/logis-hotel-le-provencal-3380?partid=661

Both restaurants are in the centre of the village. As the night draws in, it is back to the Cafe Central for a nightcap. We love a Saturday. We love Aups,  and however, you decide to spend your day. A day in Aups is a day well spent.

Where to Stay in Aups

We have stayed in villas, hotels and campsites in and around Aups. All have been enjoyable in different ways. But our top tips are;

Camping International. Always a fun time. Modern mobile homes and only 500m from the centre of the village (although it is up a steep hill).

https://www.campasun.eu/international/en/

If you are looking for a bit more luxury we recommend Bastide de Tourtour in nearby Tourtour. A beautiful hilltop village with views for days. It is a four star spa hotel. And is an ideal luxurious retreat. You would need a car to get to Aups though.

Tourtour

https://www.bastidedetourtour.com/en/

 

Copyright: Photos of hotels and restaurants belong to individual organisations

If you enjoyed this post, take a look at our Guide to Moustiers

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6 Comments

  1. Caroline Martin says:

    Such a beautiful area! We’ve been a couple of times. Especially loved the romance of Moustieres with the hanging cross. Beautiful x

    1. We love this area too. So much to see and do.

  2. This looks like such a beautiful area! And it sounds like such a nice way to spend a day too x

    Sophie

    1. Hi Sophie. It is a fantastic place to visit. Thanks for your comment x

  3. Steve Duckett says:

    A lovely read on a cold November morning – the only year in the last 20 plus years we haven’t been able to visit Provence…Tourtour and Aups in particular!

    1. Hi Steve,
      Glad it brightened your morning. Same here and we really missed it. Fingers crossed for next year.
      Best wishes, Abi x

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