The great organ was built in the workshops of the famous firm Cavaillé-Coll. Aristide Cavaillé-Coll was the most distinguished organ-builder of the 19th century. The magnificent organs of the Basilica of St Denis, Perpignan Cathedral and those from Notre-Dame were built in this same workshop.
The great organ of Bougival is composed of a total of 1216 pipes spanning a width of 5.50 m, with a depth of 1.84 m and a height extending up to 6 metres.
Completed in 1905, the organ was bought by the Protestant Consistory of Paris with the intention of adorning the concert hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association.
In 1945, it was resold to the Catholic Parish of Bougival, which wanted to replace its small old organ that had been damaged in an explosion. Bougival’s parish priest, Canon Journet, appealed to the inhabitants’ generosity and the 400,000 francs raised by this subscription made this prestigious purchase possible.
The huge instrument was then installed in March 1946 by the organ builder Paul Marie Koenig. He was the last specialist to provide it with such thorough care.
Since 1998, the parishioners have joined forces with a view to restoring this historical instrument. Their commitment and the rich legacy represented by the instrument were recognised in 2008 when the great organ of Bougival was listed as a historical monument.
