Briars, Saint Helena

The Briars is a colonial-style pavilion with white walls and balanced proportions, situated within a garden setting surrounded by hedges. The building contains several rooms arranged around a central layout that reflects its early 19th-century design.

The property served briefly as lodging for Napoleon in 1815 when he first arrived on the island, before he moved to his permanent residence. About a decade earlier, the Duke of Wellington also stayed at the same location.

The name comes from the thorny hedges that once surrounded the property and separated it from the wider landscape. Today, visitors can walk through rooms where Napoleon stayed during his first weeks on the island.

The property welcomes visitors year-round and sits within a well-maintained garden area that is straightforward to access on foot. Wearing comfortable shoes is advisable, as exploring the building and grounds involves some walking.

The property witnessed the presence of two military leaders at different times who would later become enemies. Wellington wrote about his stay and unknowingly came close to the path of the man who would become his greatest rival.