Saint-Germain-

de-Charonne

4, place Saint-Blaise, 75020 Paris

According to tradition, around 430, Saint Germain,then Bishop of Auxerre,would have met on the hillsides of Charonne a young girl from Nanterre: Saint Genevieve, the future patron Saint of Paris. Legend says that the church was erected by the inhabitants of the place on the site of a small oratory in memory of this meeting. The Church of Saint-Germain-de-Charonne harmoniously combines some vestiges of the 12th century (large pillars of the tower) with elegant architecture, for the most part from the 17th and 18th centuries. Before the annexation of 1860, it was the parish church of the former village of Charonne.

C1 The instrument was built in 1850 by the organ builder Suret. In 1936, the firm Gutschenritter carried out a complete restoration of the organ. On this occasion, the foundation stops were given a slightly flared (“pavillonné”) voicing. The original pedalboard of 18 notes was extended to 27 notes, and an electric blower was installed for the wind system. In 2005, the organ builder Jean‑Pascal Villard carried out another restoration of the instrument.