Things to see and do at A la Ronde house

The circular exterior of A la Ronde with diamond shaped windows and a green door — The exterior of A la Ronde | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Discover an enchanting 16-sided house filled with the treasures from two women’s travels around Europe. From walls lovingly decorated with hundreds of shells and feathers to quirky diamond-shaped windows, every nook and cranny is crammed with curiosities collected over the years. Delve into A la Ronde’s history and see its noteworthy interiors and collection. Wander around the Octagon room and peep behind the doors leading off it.

A la Ronde's highlights

Step inside the home of two cousins

A la Ronde was once home to two fiercely independent cousins, Mary and Jane Parminter, who went on a tour around Europe. Inspired by their travels, they built A la Ronde as a rural retreat near fashionable Exmouth and filled it with their many mementos and souvenirs.

See the Shell Gallery

Experience the Shell Gallery like never before. The intricate patterns and designs of as many as 25,000 shells are captured in a new 360-degree interactive touchscreen. Thought to be originally designed to be viewed from the Octagon below, you can now zoom in and out to get a closer look at the spectacular craft work in this room.

The Room of Discovery

Inspired by the Shell Gallery and designed by visual artist Monica-Shanta, this new sensory space gives people the chance to encounter, and appreciate, the fragile beauty of the historic interiors in a unique and accessible way.

Peep behind the doors of the Octagon

What treasures will you find behind the doors that lead off the main Octagon room? Crowned by the famous Shell Gallery, the green decorations of the Octagon make it feel like you are walking through an undersea cave and shell grotto.

The interior of the library at A la Ronde with bookshelves to the right and many paintings on the green wall — The library at A la Ronde | © National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel

Play a tune in the music room

Feeling musical? Take a seat and play a tune on the baby Boudour grand piano in the music room. This room is full of curiosities, from Inuit models and an emu egg.

Discover the Cabinet of Curiosities

The Cabinet of Curiosities in the library is bursting with Parminter family souvenirs such as shells, beadwork, semi-precious stones and votive statues, ancient Egyptian artefacts, prints from Switzerland and Italian gouache.