Hauteville House

Hauteville House is a home in which Victor Hugo lived during his exile in Guernsey. It is currently a Victor Hugo museum owned by the City of Paris since March 1927, and is located at 38 rue Hauteville in St Peter Port in Guernsey. The house was donated to the City of Paris by Victor Hugo's descendants, and the house and garden are currently open to visitors.

Victor Hugo bought the house on May 16, 1856 so as not to be expelled by the Guernsey law prohibiting the deporting of people with properties on the island. Built around 1800 by an English privateer, the house belonged to one William Ozanne, but gained the reputation of being haunted by the spirit of a woman who had committed suicide, and was unoccupied for several years. It was transformed, built, furnished and decorated over time by the writer who lived in it, while in exile, from 1856 to 1870 and who returned during the summer of 1878.

The house consists of 4 levels, with the top floor featuring a glazed lookout over the surrounding islands. The garden is filled with trees and flowers growing in abundance due to the mild climate.

This house was acquired by Victor Hugo with the profit from the initial success of the publication of "Contemplations".

Galery photos

External links

* [http://www.victorhugo.gg/hautvilleHouse.aspx Office de tourisme de Guernesey]
* [http://www.paris.fr/portail/Culture/Portal.lut?page_id=5852 Mairie de Paris]
* [http://www.hautevillehouse.com Hauteville House]