New trail highlights places Victor Hugo visited

Islanders are being invited to walk in the footsteps of the French author and visit the same places he did during the 15 years he spent in Guernsey.

The Victor Hugo centre has teamed up with 12 local businesses and community spaces across St Peter Port, which held importance to the writer during his exile to the island.

The route aims to demonstrate how Hugo was active in the local community and show how the area has developed since the 1850s.

Locations highlighted on the trail include shoe shop Beghins - the only location which has the same name from when the author lived in the island.

Hugo lived in Guernsey from 1855 to 1870 during his exile from France.

Laura Harrison, head of operations at the Victor Hugo Centre, said they were aiming to "educate, inspire and entertain" islanders by telling stories about the author.

She added: "He did not just spend his time in Guernsey writing his fantastic works like Les Misérables - he came out into the community."

One of the places Hugo visited was Guille-Alles Library, before it was established as a library.

Anna Symons, from the library, said: "Mapping out the routes he took and the places he visited helps us to feel more deeply connected to our shared local history."

The trail has officially launched and islanders and visitors are being invited to explore the town as Hugo experienced it more than 170 years ago.

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