Hauteville House

About the museum

Hauteville House was the only home Victor Hugo ever owned. Banished from France after Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte’s coup d’état of December 1851, he was also expelled from Belgium in 1852 and from Jersey in 1855, and then settled in Guernsey. In 1856 he bought the house with the proceeds from his collection of poems Les Contemplations and lived there with his family until 1870.

Hugo redecorated and furnished the house himself, over five levels with a belvedere on top that overlooks the old town of St Peter Port and Havelet Bay. Every room carries references to his writing, his philosophy and his view of the world, and his son Charles called it a poem in several rooms. He also laid out the garden, which has a pond, a stone bench facing the French coast and an oak he planted in 1870.

The house stayed in the family until 1927, when his descendants gave it to the City of Paris. It is now run by Paris Musées together with the Maison de Victor Hugo on the Place des Vosges. A major restoration between 2017 and 2019, supported by patronage, restored the colours, forms and decorative coherence of the interior. Visits are by guided tour only.

Highlights

• Guided tour through the rooms Victor Hugo designed and furnished himself
• Dining room with Delft tiles and the monumental fireplace
• Red and Blue Drawing Rooms with their chinoiserie décor
• Belvedere above St Peter Port and Havelet Bay
• Garden with the pond, stone bench and the “United States of Europe” oak

Permanent exhibition

• Guided tour of Hauteville House – The tour leads from the shadows of the ground floor to the light of the top floor, through the dining room, drawing rooms and winter garden up to the top floor with Victor Hugo’s writing room and bedroom.

Founded

1927

Operated by

Paris Musées (Maisons de Victor Hugo)

Admission & discounts

Tickets are paid for at the museum reception on presentation of the booking confirmation, in pounds sterling only, by cash or by debit or credit card (American Express is not accepted). Free admission also applies to City of Paris employees and ICOM members.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There are stairs in every part of the house, from the front doorstep to the top floor where Victor Hugo’s study and bedroom are located. The garden is reached from the street through a passage under the house with steps at both ends. Visitors with a disability should book by phone or email so that special arrangements can be made.

Kids & families

Children under 18 are admitted free, and children must be supervised by an adult at all times in the garden.

Getting there & parking

The house stands on the hillside behind St Peter Port. There is no bicycle parking at the house or in Hauteville street; the nearest bicycle parking is at the harbour. Guernsey is reached by ferry from Brittany, Normandy and the UK and by air with Aurigny.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check
• Lockers

Large bags are not allowed inside. Small lockers (45 × 24 × 35 cm) are available at reception for bags, water bottles and other items that cannot be taken on the tour.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit