FESTIVAL D’ORGUE ET DE MUSIQUE ANCIENNE DE LORRIS

Built in 1501, the Lorris organ - one of the oldest in Europe still in operation - has a singular history. At the end of the 19th century, its pipes had been punctured with knives out of jealousy by one of the titular organists on Christmas Eve, with the other titular having to provide the service. For 80 years, the organ remained silent and its case emptied of its pipes. Until, in 1967, a young priest discovered them again by chance in a corner of the church attic, effectively stabbed to death with knives. He took all the necessary steps to have the instrument classified and restored, but also to have all the original parts reused. Some of them date from the 17th or even 16th century, and this instrument, which has seen many great names, is renowned for its unique sound.