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