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On January 26, 1853, the Municipal
Commission of Paris vote a sum of 600 000
francs gold for the acquisition of a diamond
necklace intended for the Empress Eugenie,
wife of Napoleon III. But the Empress refused
the necklace, wishing that this money would
be used to create an establishment of free
education for poor girls. The architect Hittorff
gave the buildings the form of a necklace. The
inauguration was on December 28, 1856. The
buildings still house the work of the Empress.
The institution received the name of "House
Eugene Napoleon", in honor of the young
Prince, Louis-Eugène, born the year of the
inauguration, who was killed in southern
Africa in 1879. At first, the work was
entrusted to the sisters of the charity of Saint-
Vincent de Paul, who educated and equiped
poor and orphan girls. In 1974, the institution
took the status of "Eugène Napoléon
Foundation". The sisters retired in 1976. The
Foundation continues today, with modern
means, the social educational work as desired
by the Empress Eugénie in 1853.
Photo of the organ: Jeroen de Haan
C1
The organ was built by Cavaillé-Coll in 1857 and is still in
its original state, thus being a really exceptional witness of
the work of Cavaillé-Coll in those years.
It was last heard in 1946 and has been neglected since
then. It is completely unplayable.
Organs of Paris
ORGANS OF PARIS © 2024 Vincent Hildebrandt ALL ORGANS
C1
The organ was built by Cavaillé-Coll in 1857 and is still in its
original state, thus being a really exceptional witness of the
work of Cavaillé-Coll in those years.
It was last heard in 1946 and has been neglected since then. It
is completely unplayable.
