Aups is situated in beautiful surroundings at the foot of the Alps and at the entrance to the Verdon River, which leads up to the famous Gorges du Verdon, just 50 kilometres north of the town. In the surrounding area you'll find several interesting small towns such as Salernes, Tourtour, Villecroze and Sillans-la-Cascade. In addition, the city is just over 60 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea and 80 kilometres from the nearest ski resorts.

Aups is primarily known for being one of France's most important centres for truffle production and trade, its many excellent markets for the area's produce, local crafts and other locally made products. The third largest black truffle market in France takes place in the city from November to the end of February without interruption and sometimes even until mid-March. The town's excellent truffle museum, the Maison de la Truffe du Verdon, which doubles as a tourist office, offers a great insight into the world of truffles.

Aups was founded when Celtic and Ligurian tribes settled in the area and the town has had many names over the years: Oppidum de Alpibus (City of the Alps), Castrum de Alpibus (Fortress of the Alps), Alps and finally the current name Aups. It is an ancient city with a very rich history and Julius Caesar was very enthusiastic when he visited the city. He wrote: ‘Better to be No. 1 in Aups than No. 2 in Rome’.

The city has always been very republican and rebelled against the royal power. In 1851, the town was the centre of an uprising against Napoleon III's coup d'état; and during World War II, Aups was a stronghold of the resistance and after the war won a military decoration and medal of bravery for its fight for the homeland and the Allied forces. In several places around the city, you can see many memorial plaques to the fallen who were killed during the street battles.

Aups is a typical Provençal village with old stone houses with beautiful entrance doors, narrow streets with cosy shops, restaurants and cafés, beautiful squares with shady plane trees and fountains and several antique sundials. Aups has also preserved a number of historic buildings from the 11th to 16th centuries: city wall, castle ruins, bell tower, Gothic collegiate church and more.