Fêtes Romantiques de Nohant (Nohant Romantic Festival)

The story of the Fêtes Romantiques de Nohant began in the early 60s. This story is associated with a place, this being the home of George Sand in Nohant. In the middle of the 60’s, events combining theatre, traditional and romantic music were organized in Nohant, especially in the sheepfold on George Sand's estate. Little by little, the idea of a festival bringing music and literature together was born. First called the Nohant Nuits Romantiques (Romantic Nights), then Fêtes Musicales (Musical Celebrations), it was only in 1968 that the festival assumed its current name. Fêtes Romantiques de Nohant (Nohant Romantic Festival) Spurred on by Jean Darnel, who was the artistic director until 1990, the festival was to experience international success, hosting some of the best-known artists at that time, such as Arthur Rubinstein, Alfred Brendel, Yehudi Menuhin, Elisabeth Schwartzkopf and many others (see the “retrospective” page which includes all the festival programmes since 1968 until 2006).

This festival is traditionally organized on the last three weekends in June and is mainly comprised of piano recitals, chamber music concerts and literary and musical evenings, to which lectures by some of the greatest musicologists and writers can be added. With Marie-Christine Barrault as honorary president and organized in partnership with Monum, Centre des monuments nationaux (national monument centre), the owner of the Home of George Sand, this festival, which offers the occasion to visit the park of the George Sand estate during the entr’actes, has been described by Télérama as being the “Most romantic of festivals” (Guide to summer festivals 2002).