Maison de Victor Hugo

Interesting facts

1. 1

   Victor Hugo designed much of the furniture in the apartment, including wood carvings that incorporate his initials.

2. 2

   The apartment contains a Chinese drawing room that Hugo decorated with panels he disassembled from a folding screen.

3. 3

   The museum collection includes a death mask of Victor Hugo created by the sculptor Jules Dalou.

4. 4

   Hugo famously moved out of the apartment in 1848 due to a dispute with his landlord regarding a leaky roof.

5. 5

   The bedroom where Hugo died in his Avenue d'Eylau home was recreated in this museum, featuring the original bed and furniture.

6. 6

   During his exile, Hugo filled his Guernsey home with many of the same decorative elements found in this Parisian apartment.

7. 7

   The apartment features a collection of rare first editions and personal letters penned by Hugo.

8. 8

   The building was designated as a museum in 1903, marking the centenary of Hugo's birth.

Overview

The Maison de Victor Hugo occupies the second floor of the Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée, an early 17th-century hôtel particulier on the Place des Vosges. The author lived in this apartment from 1832 to 1848, a period during which he wrote significant portions of Les Misérables. The museum is organized chronologically into rooms representing his life before, during, and after his exile in Guernsey. It houses an extensive collection of personal artifacts, original manuscripts, and furniture designed by Hugo himself. Notable displays include the Chinese-style living room and the medieval-inspired dining room. Visitors can view various portraits of Hugo by contemporary artists and illustrations created by the author. The museum also features a rotating exhibition space dedicated to literature and the history of the period. Access to the apartments is provided via a grand staircase overlooking the square's interior courtyard. The site is currently managed by the Paris Musées municipal network.

Insider tips

• Check the official museum website for temporary exhibition schedules before visiting to ensure the main apartment tour is not impacted.

• Visit the small interior courtyard to view the fountain and the architectural details of the building's facade.

• The museum shop stocks high-quality reproductions of Hugo's own ink drawings.