When his health improved, the couple returned to France.Chopin spent six successive summers at George Sand's summer estate at Nohant, and these were undoubtedly his happiest moments in life after leaving his homeland.

There he composed, among other works, the Ballade in A flat major, Nocturnes Op. 48, the Fantasy in F minor, the Polonaise in A flat major, the Scherzo in E major, and the Berceuse in D flat major. Nohant was visited by Balzac, Liszt, singer Paulina Viardot and Delacroix.