The House Where Victor Hugo Wrote Les Misérables Reopens to the Public
Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables tells the story of redemption and revolution on the streets of Paris in the early 19th century. But the classic work was actually written on Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.
For 15 years, Hugo lived on Guernsey while he was in exile from France. He called the island a "rock of hospitality and freedom," and his home there was known as Hauteville House.
Following Hugo's death in 1885, the property stayed in his family until 1927, when his when it was donated to the city of Paris by his grandchildren, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Romantic Movement.
The house was then turned into a museum, which underwent a signifiant renovation earlier this year, one that was paid for by François Pinault, the French billionaire art collector and CEO of the luxury group Kering, which owns fashion brands including Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and Gucci. (Yes, the same François Pinault who just donated $113 million to help rebuild Notre-Dame.)
Per the BBC, Pinault said of the house, "It is itself a work of art," and in total, he donated £2.6 million to the project.
"I am pleased to support its full restoration to a state worthy of the original and to renewing the décor that formed the backdrop for the creation of so many masterpieces," he said.
Earlier this month, Hauteville House reopened to the public for tours. The timing is impeccable; a new miniseries based on Hugo's classic work recently started airing in the U.S. on Masterpiece PBS.
If you'd like to plan a Hugo-related pilgrimage, the house is open six days a week (every day except Wednesdays) from now through September 30, and costs £10 for adults. Tickets are free for children under the age 18. Reservations are required. For more information, visit the home's website.
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