Maison de Victor Hugo

Overview

Overlooking the achingly beautiful Place des Vosges in the Marais, the Maison de Victor Hugo is a fascinating, deeply atmospheric author's house museum. It offers incredible insight into the wildly creative, complex life of France's ultimate literary titan.

Highlights

• The Chinese Drawing Room: An overwhelmingly spectacular, highly eccentric room completely designed by Hugo himself, packed with exotic Asian art and heavily carved wooden panels.
• The Red Salon: The dramatic, damask-walled reception room where Hugo hosted the giants of French literature, including Alexandre Dumas and Honoré de Balzac.
• The Death Chamber: A meticulous recreation of the somber room where he died in 1885, featuring his actual, incredibly modest deathbed.

History

Victor Hugo rented the entire second floor of this prestigious mansion (Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée) from 1832 to 1848. It was the most productive period of his life, notably writing a massive portion of Les Misérables here before being forced into exile by Napoleon III.

Visitor Tips

• Cost: The permanent exhibition (the main apartment) is completely free to enter.
• The Staircase: The grand staircase leading up to the apartment is original and highly atmospheric.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.