- The Maison de la Truffe d’Aups et du Verdon is a museum space combined with a fine food shop, devoted to the black truffle, in the heart of the village of Aups (Var).
- Its theme is truffle growing and the “black diamond”: the history, biology, geology, cultivation, harvesting, economics and marketing of truffles, in a fun, sensory trail of around 180 m².
- The centre was created by the commune of Aups and opened at the end of November 2015; the project had been supported since 2005 by the Parc naturel régional du Verdon, together with the Chambre d’agriculture du Var and European LEADER funding.
- Here you’ll find a themed exhibition trail, sensory spaces built around “the Truffle Adventure”, and a shop selling local produce.
- Aups, a truffle stronghold of the Haut-Var Verdon, hosts one of the region’s leading retail truffle markets — hence its popular nickname, “truffle capital”.
What you’ll discover
- The Maison is housed in the former Hospice Saint-Jacques, a 17th-century building in the heart of the village of Aups.
- The trail covers around 180 m² and offers a fun deep-dive into the underground, mysterious world of the black diamond.
- The exhibition is organised around themed modules: the history, biology, geology, cultivation, harvesting, economics and marketing of the truffle.
- The site combines several spaces: a trail built around “the Truffle Adventure” and a sensory section (the truffle through the five senses, including a tasting).
- A fine food shop sells truffle-based products and regional produce.
The Verdon’s black truffle
- The queen truffle of Aups is the black truffle, Tuber melanosporum, also known as the “black diamond”.
- The harvest, known as “cavage” (truffle hunting), is usually carried out with the help of a truffle dog, in a close partnership between handler and animal.
- The truffle grower uses a small tool, the “picon”, to delicately extract the truffle once it’s been located.
- The fresh truffle season runs from late November to late March, in the depths of winter.
- The stony, limestone soils of the Haut-Var offer conditions renowned for being favourable to truffles.
Aups, truffle capital
- The Aups black truffle market, established in 1971, is held every Thursday morning from the 4th Thursday of November through to the end of March.
- This market offers only Tuber melanosporum truffles of the 1st and 2nd categories, and is reserved for sales to individuals (a retail market).
- In summer, a summer truffle sale takes place on Wednesday mornings.
- Aups is regarded as home to one of the leading retail truffle markets and as a renowned truffle centre of the Haut-Var Verdon.
- The Var truffle industry has developed into one of the department’s flagship sectors.
Why Aups
- Aups is a Provençal village in the Haut-Var, at the gateway to the gorges and lakes of the Verdon.
- The commune lies on the road leading to the Verdon and the lac de Sainte-Croix, close to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
- Its limestone terroir and climate make it a historic area for black truffle production.
- The village combines Provençal heritage — squares, fountains, a market — with proximity to the Verdon’s great natural sites.
The Maison de la Truffe is located in the heart of the village of Aups, in the Haut-Var (83), at the gateway to the Verdon, close to the tourist office. Aups can be reached by road from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and the lac de Sainte-Croix to the west, from Salernes and Draguignan to the south-east, or from the A8 motorway and then the departmental roads of the Haut-Var. The village centre is best explored on foot; parking is available on the squares and car parks nearby.
Official museum website (opening hours & prices) ↗Frequently asked questions
What is the Maison de la Truffe d’Aups et du Verdon?
It’s a museum space combined with a fine food shop, devoted to the black truffle and truffle growing, in the heart of Aups in the former Hospice Saint-Jacques (17th century). The trail, covering around 180 m², presents the history, biology and harvesting of the “black diamond” in a fun, sensory way.
Who runs the Maison de la Truffe, and since when has it existed?
It was created by the commune of Aups and opened at the end of November 2015. The project had been supported since 2005 by the Parc naturel régional du Verdon, with the involvement of the Chambre d’agriculture du Var and European LEADER funding.
When is the Aups truffle market held?
The black truffle market is held every Thursday morning, from the 4th Thursday of November through to the end of March. Established in 1971, it offers only Tuber melanosporum truffles of the 1st and 2nd categories. A summer truffle sale takes place on Wednesday mornings during the summer season.
Why is Aups associated with the truffle?
Aups and the Haut-Var form a renowned truffle terroir, with stony, limestone soils that favour the black truffle. The village is home to one of the region’s leading retail truffle markets, which has earned it its reputation as a leading truffle destination of the Verdon.