Hauteville House

Now to the highlight of our trip to Guernsey. You know how sometimes when you're not expecting a great deal your expectations are completely confounded? That's what happened when we visited Victor Hugo's house in St Peter Port. Timed entry, to be pre-booked, only so many visitors allowed each day. We walked up the hill to the exterior of an unremarkable looking house. We were early, would we like to sit in the garden? Well, I'm always happy to sit in a garden! We walked along this narrow passageway.

and out into the sunshine and a view over the harbour.

On the terrace there were Victor Hugo's novels to peruse

and the rear exterior of the house to admire.

This is how it looked before Victor Hugo added the exterior steps to access the garden directly from the upper stories.

His wife and friends in the garden.

THEN WE WENT INSIDE!

What an entrance!

A blaze of colour as the door is opened to the billiard room.

Such dramatic changes as we moved from dark to light. Hugo certainly wasn't a man for whom less is more!

The tiled dining room.

(Note the plastic bucket under the sink. The house will be closed through 2018 for much-needed restoration work to be carried out.)

Then up the stairs to discover more delights.

1868, Victor Hugo in the red drawing room.

WOW!

A detail of the beaded wall decoration

and a little withdrawing corner of the room.

1878, Victor Hugo on his terrace.

At the top of the house all is light and bright,

with a view out to sea.

Up here is his own small bedroom with steps up to the roof.

What a magical place.