Victor Hugo's Garden at Hauteville House

Inspired by the wild, romantic gardens of his childhood, Victor Hugo reimagined the grounds of his exile home as a living work of art. Drawing on memories of the Feuillantines and echoes of the garden on rue Plumet in Les Misérables, he created a space that is both poetic and deeply personal.

Faithfully restored by landscape designer Louis Benech in 2018-2019, thanks to the exclusive sponsorship of Pinault Collection and the City of Paris, the gardens today feature a productive kitchen garden, fruit trees and a rich variety of planting that reflects Hugo’s original vision. Among its most symbolic features are the pond with its striking “Snake Fountain”—relocated from Place Royale—and a stone bench positioned to frame views of the French coast, both central to the writer’s creative world.

Following a storm in 1869, Hugo reshaped the garden, introducing new planting including a fig arbour and edible varieties such as wild asparagus and sea kale, which he referenced in his writings. On 14 July 1870, he planted the “United States of Europe Oak”—a powerful symbol of his ideals—which still stands today as a living legacy.

Now a peaceful and inspiring space, the garden offers visitors a rare opportunity to step into Hugo’s imagination and experience the landscape that shaped his work.

Please note: The garden is freely accessible; however, visits to the house must be booked in advance via the official Hauteville House website:https://www.maisonsvictorhugo.paris.fr/en/guernesey