Fryderyk Chopin ❤️ George Sand and their holidays in Nohant

Until their break-up in 1847, Fryderyk Chopin spent most of the summer months with his lover, George Sand, at her country estate in Nohant, France, about 400 km south of Paris in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Those six years together were undoubtedly among the happiest moments of Chopin’s life since 1830, when he was forced to stay in exile. In 1844, whilst in Nohant, he composed one of his most important works of that period – the Sonata in B minor, which Anna Vinnitskaya will perform on 7 November.

In the house, built in the Louis XV style, Chopin’s room had special soundproof shutters and heavily padded doors so that the maestro could compose undisturbed during the day, whilst George usually slept after a sleepless night. Although he appeared at first glance to be a gentle man, he often succumbed to fits of rage and despair, during which he would throw himself on the floor, scream, tear up his manuscripts, pound the keys and claim that he had no talent and would never compose anything worthwhile.

You can still visit George Sand’s house in Nohant today, where the Polish composer spent some of the happiest years of his life. And if you’re lucky, you’ll be served fresh rolls ‘à la George Sand’.