The dilapidated building standing at the bottom of Rothschild Park has the eerie feeling of a haunted house. Yet, for almost a century, this stylish manor played host to crowds of Parisian high society. Built in 1860 by James de Rothschild, the residence welcomed great artists and political power brokers – from Thiers and Clemenceau to Debussy and Chopin. The latter was familiar with the premises, having given piano lessons to the daughter of the owners. Chopin even dedicated his famous Ballade No. 4 in F minor to the young woman. Abandoned in World War II when the family fled to England, the castle was sold to the town hall for a symbolic franc, but it was never renovated. In the 1970s, it served as the setting for two films by Marguerite Duras, including the famous India Song.
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