BNP Paribas supports the exhibition “Victor Hugo: The Will”
From September 12, 2025, to January 26, 2026, visitors to the National Archives Museum at the Hôtel de Soubise in Paris can discover the original will of Victor Hugo. This will, presented alongside other documents, offers a perspective on the poet’s last wishes and their implementation by his heirs and executors: the organization of his funeral, literary legacy, and the future of his family.
What is the “Les Remarquables” exhibition cycle?
Since 2023, the National Archives have presented remarkable documents twice a year.
The choice of these documents is made by the general public, who vote in favor of documents that have made history in France or are related to famous figures in French history. Thus, documents such as the Templars’ interrogation roll or Simone Veil’s speech for the abortion law project have been included in the National Archives’ collections.
Victor Hugo’s will regarding his funeral is the 5th document displayed in this cycle.
The man who wanted to be transported to the cemetery in a pauper’s hearse
A man of letters, a “monument” of our literary heritage, but also a committed politician who uses his pen to serve his ideas, Victor Hugo defends social justice, opposes censorship and the death penalty, and, through his work, particularly “Les Misérables”, touches the entire population, including the most popular classes.
The documents exhibited in the 3 display cases at the Hôtel de Soubise in the National Archives reflect the values and humanism of Victor Hugo.
BNP Paribas accompanies the enhancement of historical heritage and archives
As a historical actor and witness to the transformations of society and the economy around the world for two centuries, BNP Paribas attaches particular importance to the knowledge and dissemination of History. The Group supports this exhibition, following recent support such as the 2024 exhibition “1974: Simone Veil’s Speech”, the acquisition of General de Gaulle’s writings for the BnF, or the National Mission for the 80th anniversary of the Liberation, landings, and reconstruction.
To learn more about the exhibition:
