Chapelle de la Fondation

Eugène-Napoléon

254, rue du faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris

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

1857 - Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (1)

II/23 - traction mécanique

composition

Silent since depuis 1946

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. During the National Organ Days in France in Paris in October 2024, the wind supply to the organ was restored and the first sounds of this instrument could be heard. By decree of the Minister of Culture in January 2025, this Cavaillé-Coll organ (1857) was classified as a historical monument.