Architecture is at the heart of Hugo's creative work. Buildings and monuments give meaning to his stories and shape his relationship with the world. An ardent defender of heritage since 1825, his most famous novel on the subject is of course Notre-Dame de Paris (‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’), published in 1831, in which the monumental cathedral has as much to do with architecture as it does with writing.

Architecture pervades his graphic work, too; even his early sketchbooks and drawings are full of castles, keeps, ruins, towers and fortresses. The poet's imagination extends to real or imagined monuments, accurate or fanciful, immense or tiny – they all construct the space just as they construct the narrative. The exhibition is mainly devoted to Victor Hugo's drawings. It is divided into four thematic sections: “Things Seen” with the first travel notebooks and drawings, “From Building to Novel with Notre-Dame de Paris, a cathedral of a novel”, “Imaginary/Visionary Architecture” and finally “The Architecture of Intimacy”, which focuses on Hauteville House, where the poet designed his own home – the private theatre of his prolific imagination.

Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

We strongly recommend booking a timed ticket, as access to the exhibition is valid for 15 minutes after the start of the time slot.
How to do ? Once your e-ticket in hands, please go on the website  https://www.billetterie-parismusees.paris.fr, then select the exhibition + the date & time + the “Billet non daté” for 0€.
 Please present on the spot the entrance e-ticket open + the time-slot e-ticket booking.