Aups · 83

Musée Simon Ségal d'Aups

In the chapel of the former Ursuline convent, in Aups on the doorstep of the Verdon, an art museum brings together more than 280 canvases from three schools of painting, including 58 works by Simon Ségal.

The essentials

The museum is housed in the chapel of the former Ursuline convent, in Aups (Var, 83630).
It brings together more than 280 canvases from three schools of painting: Paris, Toulon and Bourges.
The collection includes 58 works by the painter Simon Ségal (Białystok 1898 – Arcachon 1969), a figure of the School of Paris.
The collection comes mainly from a donation made to the town by a collector, Mr Bassano, in gratitude for the welcome he received in Aups.
It is a municipal museum of Aups, and its visitor information is shared by the Office de Tourisme Intercommunal Lacs et Gorges du Verdon.

What you'll see

More than 280 canvases on display, presented as a collection of modern and contemporary art.
Three schools of painting are represented: the School of Paris, the School of Toulon and the School of Bourges.
58 canvases are by the hand of Simon Ségal, who gives the museum its name.
The place itself — the chapel of the former Ursuline convent — is part of the visit.

Simon Ségal, the painter

Simon Ségal (sometimes spelled Segal) was born in Białystok in 1898 and died in Arcachon in 1969.
A figurative painter linked to the School of Paris, he emigrated to France in 1925 and was naturalised French in 1949.
His style is described as austere, synthetic and strongly expressive.
He painted portraits, landscapes and marine scenes, and produced illustrations; his memory is kept alive by the Association des Amis de Simon Segal.

An art museum on the doorstep of the Verdon

The museum occupies the chapel of the former Ursuline convent, a complex with a long religious history that has been converted into a cultural venue.
The core of the collection comes from the private collection of Mr Bassano, exiled in France, who donated it to the village of Aups.
The donation is presented as a gesture of gratitude for the welcome the collector received in Aups.
The museum adds to the heritage offering of Aups, separate from the Maison de la Truffe and the truffle market that otherwise make the village famous.

Why Aups

Aups is a village in the Haut-Var (83630), on the doorstep of the Gorges du Verdon, within the Lacs et Gorges du Verdon area.
The village combines Provençal heritage, a market and proximity to the great natural sites of the Verdon.
Its location, between Lac de Sainte-Croix and the Var hinterland, makes it a cultural stop on the Verdon route.

Getting there & visiting

The Simon Ségal museum is in Aups, in the Haut-Var (83630), on the doorstep of the Gorges du Verdon. It occupies the chapel of the former Ursuline convent, in the village. Aups is served by the roads linking the Lacs et Gorges du Verdon area (Sainte-Croix, Aiguines) and central Var. As visiting conditions can vary with the season, it's best to check with the tourist office or Aups town hall before you come.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Simon Ségal museum?

In Aups, in the Var (83630), on the doorstep of the Gorges du Verdon. It is housed in the chapel of the former Ursuline convent, in the heart of the village.

Who was Simon Ségal?

A figurative painter of the School of Paris, born in Białystok in 1898 and died in Arcachon in 1969. He emigrated to France in 1925 and was naturalised in 1949, and is known for an austere, expressive style.

What can you see in the museum?

More than 280 canvases spread across three schools of painting — Paris, Toulon and Bourges — including 58 works by Simon Ségal himself.

Where does the collection come from?

Mainly from a donation made to the town of Aups by a collector, Mr Bassano, in gratitude for the welcome he received in the village.

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