The charming neighborhood of the 6th arrondisement harbors many delights and hidden surprises. The first time I meandered into the Eglise Saint-Sulpice, I discovered one of them.

Upon entering and looking to the right, I came upon two exceptionally moving murals, including Jacob Wrestling With the Angel. The paintings are the work of Ferdinand Victor Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863), whose style is categorized as being part of the French Romantic School. Delacroix’s novel approach to the use of color, and his love of movement, inspired the young Impressionist painters. His most famous work, titled, Liberty Leading the People, can be seen in the Musee du Louvre.

On the East side of the lovely Place St. Sulpice, stands the church, bigger than all the churches in Paris, with the exception of Notre Dame de Paris. It was erected upon the site of a chapel dating from the 13th century and the first stone of the current church was laid in 1646. It would be another hundred years before completion.

In addition to the Delacroix murals, the church is revered for its most famous pipe organ, designed by Aristide Cavaille-Coll in 1862. Cavaille-Coll (1811-1899) was the most accomplished of the 19th century French organ builders and the organ he installed at Saint Sulpice, is his largest and greatest achievement.

Many of the materials used in the construction of the instrument, were originally part of the French Classical organ built in 1781 by Clicquot (1732-1790) for Saint- Sulpice. With 100 stops and 5 manuals, it is classified as a “symphonic” organ and is a candidate for becoming a “Unesco World Heritage Site”.
Cavaille-Coll revolutionized the capabilitiy of this wind instrument, inventing new technologies for more versatile sounds. For instance, he refined the spring-loaded pedal which allowed for more expressive playing.

The organists affiliated with Saint-Sulpice beginning with Nicolas Sejan in the 1700s, are renowned for their virtuosity and their compositions. Come to morning mass on Sunday to hear the organ, or attend a scheduled recital. This instrument packs an emotional punch and is thought to be the most brilliant organ to emerge from the workshop of the master craftsman, Cavaille-Coll.

EGLISE SAINT-SULPICE
Place St. Sulpice
6th Arrondisement
Metro: St-Sulpice
Open Daily: 8:30am-7:30pm
Organ Recitals