A new ‘Victor Hugo Trails’ experience has been launched to offer people the chance to walk in his footsteps and relive the 15 years he spent in the island.

While in exile from France, Hugo finished writing and wrote his famous works Les Miserables and Toilers of the Sea while living here.

As part of new efforts to celebrate his life and work, the Guernsey trails have a specific QR-linked audio file in both English and French.

The trails are divided into two parts – namely town and the cliffs – with stops including Elizabeth College, Victoria Tower, St James, the Commercial Arcade, and the Market buildings. Information boards with access to the linked audio files have been put up along the trails.

The two trails; sponsored by Moore Stephens, span five miles from the new Guernsey Information Centre to Fermain Bay, via La Vallette. 

The trails were launched at the bathing pools with a talk to celebrate Guernsey’s literary and historical heritage.

Larry Malcic, Victor Hugo Centre Chairman said: “It is my hope that the Victor Hugo Trails will introduce Hugo to a new audience in addition to making his many fans think about his work in a new way.

“He championed social justice and freedom, ideas still under threat today. In Guernsey, he found absolute freedom of thought, speech and expression, and now others can see the island through his eyes.”

The project has been supported by local individuals and organisations with familiar local voices featuring on the audio recordings.

Laura Harrison, the Victor Hugo Centre’s Operations Manager thanked James Colmer for his artwork and the 16 people who recorded audio including the Very Reverend Tim Barker, and  ‘Sea Donkey’ Adrian Sarchet, as well as Victor Hugo’s great-great-grandson, Jean-Baptiste Hugo, who has voiced the French version.

Sam Bird, CEO of Moore Stephens said: “One of our aims at Moore Stephens is to embrace change. Through the Victor Hugo Trails, we are proud to show off Guernsey in its full glory and to look back at the island through the eyes of Victor Hugo – one of our most influential and famous residents.”