This masterpiece of early-Gotic architecture was built between 1163-1345, replacing a Merovingian Cathedral, St. Stephen. During the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV, the cathedral was much altered, as Gothic style was considered outdated. During the revolution, many of the treasures of the cathedral were destroyed. The cathedral's organ and great bell Emmanuel (15 th century) managed to avoid being destructed. The badly damaged cathedral was restored in 1845-1870 by Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. In fact, quite a few parts of the present cathedral do originate from the 19th century! From 1991 onwards, a major program of maintenance and restoration has been carried out. In the future, new and comprehensive restoration works have to be carried out. Both its exterior and its interior are overwhelming - a maginifcent housing for its organ!The devastating fire of April 15, 2019 severely damaged the building. In 2020, it was decided to rebuild the destroyed or severely damaged parts identically. Notre-Dame is scheduled to reopen to the public on December 8, 2024.
The first instrument is mentioned as early as 1357. In 1403, a new organ is built. Till 1730, there is a history of many transformations and extensions.1730-1733The present organ originates from a new organ constructed by François Thierry in 1730-33. This instrument was renovated and extended in 1783-88 by François-Henri Clicquot. 1864-68The positive was taken away by Violet le Duc (it is still stored somewhere in the cathedral) and the Clicquot organ was transformed into a symphonic organ by Cavaillé-Coll. He introduced a novelty here by extending the harmonics using a 7th and its octaves. 1959 - 1968 The instrument was electrified , extended and revoiced par Jean Hermann and Robert Boisseau under the direction of Pierre Cochereau and lost its symphonic character. 1990-92A large-scale restoration was carried out by Boisseau & Cattiaux, Emeriau, Giroud, returning the organ to its symphonic character of the 19th century, while maintaining the classical 32' grand choeur as reconstructed in the past century. Video: Point 'd Orgue 2012-2014The organ was restorated again and enlarged by Bertrand Cattiaux and Pascal Quoirin. They installed a new computer traction, repaired the sunken pipes, cleaned the organ and modified the "small pedal" into a ‘resonnance’ board. A register system motorized by high-pressure pneumatic actuators was supplied to replace Cavaille-Coll's action stop ties and the pneumatic stop tie machines were completely restored. Video Montage and rénovationApril 15, 2019A very, very dark day in the history of Paris, France and the world: Notre-Dame-de-Paris is seriously damaged by a great fire. Thanks to the watertight and fireproof stone vault, the great organ did not suffer! The pipes were only filled with lead dust. 2019-2024The windchests were cleaned at the Quirin workshop in Saint-Didier and restored by the Manufacture Languedocienne des Grandes Orgues in Lodève (Hérault). Spared by the fire but covered with soot and lead dust, the pipes have been completely renovated in the Cattiaux-Chevron workshop in Liourdres in Corrèze. After the completion of the restoration of the organ at the end of 2022, the reassembly of the instrument in the west gallery of the cathedral began in early 2023 and starting at the beginning of 2024, each of the 8,000 pipes (completely renovated by Cattiaux-Chevron) was voiced and tuned separately.33 stops are from before the revolution, around 50 are from Cavaillé-Coll.
Maurice Duruflé:... placed an a dais situated in the middle of a spacious organ loft with thé immense nave of the cathedral in het organist's view. Like a ship's captain on the bridge, he takes in the great open sea. It is an absolutely intoxicating experience.(L'Orgue, no 162, april-june 1977)Louis Vierne:At Notre Dame, with the console about seven feet out from the case, the player hears the sound directly and in all its power. It is a joy seldom experienced elsewhere.
Maurice Duruflé:... placed an a dais situated in the middle of a spacious organ loft with thé immense nave of the cathedral in het organist's view. Like a ship's captain on the bridge, he takes in the great open sea. It is an absolutely intoxicating experience.(L'Orgue, no 162, april-june 1977)Louis Vierne:At Notre Dame, with the console about seven feet out from the case, the player hears the sound directly and in all its power. It is a joy seldom experienced elsewhere.
The first instrument is mentioned as early as 1357. In 1403, a new organ is built. Till 1730, there is a history of many transformations and extensions.1730-1733The present organ originates from a new organ constructed by François Thierry in 1730-33. This instrument was renovated and extended in 1783-88 by François-Henri Clicquot. 1864-68The positive was taken away by Violet le Duc (it is still stored somewhere in the cathedral) and the Clicquot organ was transformed into a symphonic organ by Cavaillé-Coll. He introduced a novelty here by extending the harmonics using a 7th and its octaves. 1959 - 1968 The instrument was electrified , extended and revoiced par Jean Hermann and Robert Boisseau under the direction of Pierre Cochereau and lost its symphonic character. 1990-92A large-scale restoration was carried out by Boisseau & Cattiaux, Emeriau, Giroud, returning the organ to its symphonic character of the 19th century, while maintaining the classical 32' grand choeur as reconstructed in the past century. Video: Point 'd Orgue 2012-2014The organ was restorated again and enlarged by Bertrand Cattiaux and Pascal Quoirin. They installed a new computer traction, repaired the sunken pipes, cleaned the organ and modified the "small pedal" into a ‘resonnance’ board. A register system motorized by high-pressure pneumatic actuators was supplied to replace Cavaille-Coll's action stop ties and the pneumatic stop tie machines were completely restored. Video Montage and rénovationApril 15, 2019A very, very dark day in the history of Paris, France and the world: Notre-Dame-de-Paris is seriously damaged by a great fire. Thanks to the watertight and fireproof stone vault, the great organ did not suffer! The pipes were only filled with lead dust. 2019-2024The windchests were cleaned at the Quirin workshop in Saint-Didier and restored by the Manufacture Languedocienne des Grandes Orgues in Lodève (Hérault). Spared by the fire but covered with soot and lead dust, the pipes have been completely renovated in the Cattiaux-Chevron workshop in Liourdres in Corrèze. After the completion of the restoration of the organ at the end of 2022, the reassembly of the instrument in the west gallery of the cathedral began in early 2023 and starting at the beginning of 2024, each of the 8,000 pipes (completely renovated by Cattiaux-Chevron) was voiced and tuned separately.33 stops are from before the revolution, around 50 are from Cavaillé-Coll.