A la Ronde

A la Ronde is a quirky 18th-century, 16 sided house with fascinating interior decoration and collections. In 1784 Jane Parminter, daughter of a wealthy Devon wine merchant, set off on a grand tour of Europe accompanied by her invalid sister Elizabeth, an orphaned cousin, Mary, and a London friend, Miss Colville. Over several years these intrepid women explored France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and possibly Spain and Portugal, before returning to England. Elizabeth died soon afterward. Inspired by their travels, and in particular by the 6th-century Byzantine basilica of San Vitale at Ravenna, Jane and Mary made plans to build themselves a rural retreat, near fashionable Exmouth, which would remind them of their tour and provide a home for their many souvenirs.

It's easy to reach A la Ronde in Exmouth, by train. Simply hop on a train to Lympstone Village station - then it's a 15-20 minute walk from the station up the hill.

For more visitor info including opening times, visit A la Ronde’s website.